Learn from My Mistakes: A Brutal Truth About Crypto Security

If you’re new to crypto investing or just thinking about getting into the game, I want to share some hard-earned lessons from my own experience — including one very expensive mistake I made back in 2018 that taught me the brutal truth about crypto security.

1. Never keep large amounts of crypto on an exchange. Exchanges are great for buying and selling, but they are not safe long-term storage solutions. If the platform gets hacked or goes under, your funds could be gone in seconds. Once you’ve made your purchase, move your crypto to cold storage — meaning it’s kept offline and out of reach of hackers. You can use a hardware wallet like a Ledger or Trezor, or even a paper wallet if you’re extra cautious.

   
   

2. Use a secure, anonymous email and a strong password. Don’t use the same Gmail or iCloud address that’s linked to your social media or your name. Set up a dedicated, low-profile email that’s only used for your crypto accounts — something that doesn’t scream “this belongs to me.” Combine that with a unique, complex password that you don’t reuse anywhere else.

   
   

3. Use a password management system. Tools like 1Password or Bitwarden make it easy to create and store complex passwords securely. Don’t rely on memory or sticky notes.

   
   

4. Protect your seed phrases like your life depends on it. Your seed phrase is the master key to your crypto. Write it down — never store it digitally — and keep multiple copies in separate, secure locations. A home safe or a safety deposit box at your bank are both solid options.

   
   

5. Lock down your cell phone. One of the most overlooked attack vectors is your phone number. Make sure your carrier has strict verification procedures in place before they make any changes to your account. This is to protect against SIM swapping — when a hacker convinces your carrier to transfer your number to a new SIM card. It happened to me in 2018. Someone pretending to be me called AT&T, gained access, and stole a large amount of crypto. I was completely locked out — and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

   
   

6. Scrub your personal information from the internet. Even if you’re not an investor, this one’s a must. Services like DeleteMe (not a paid endorsement) can help remove your data from broker sites that sell your personal info. You’d be shocked at how much of your private information is floating around online.

   
   

I learned all of this the hard way. I was naïve enough to think it couldn’t happen to me, but it did because I wasn't careful with my crypto security from the start. If my experience can save you from going through what I went through, it’s worth sharing. Protect your assets. Protect your identity. Crypto can be life-changing, but only if you’re smart about your security.

Have more questions? Contact me for a free, no-pressure consultation.