STAGE 3 · OWN ITLEVEL · Intermediate10 LESSONSABOUT 58 MINOWNING & SECURING
Holding your own keys is the point of Bitcoin and the part with the sharpest edges. This course goes from the first hardware wallet to multisig and inheritance, with the habits in between. Ten lessons, about an hour. It is education, not advice about what to buy or how much to hold.
BY THE END OF THIS COURSE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO
- Choose a custody setup that matches the amount and your skills
- Set up and verify a hardware wallet and its backup
- Explain when multisig is worth the complexity
- Manage UTXOs for fees and privacy
- Make a plan so your bitcoin survives you
Every lesson ends with a quiz or a challenge; the course is complete when each lesson is.
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LESSONS
01Keys and addressesA seed derives private keys, which derive public keys and addresses. Only the seed needs backing up; only addresses should be shared.✓ quiz▭ cards5 MIN✓02Custody options, from easy to sovereignFrom custodial accounts to hot wallets, hardware wallets and multisig: what each protects against and what it costs you in effort.▶ 1✓ quiz6 MIN✓03How to set up a hardware walletVerify the device, generate the seed on it, write and verify the words, set a PIN, then test a small amount in and out.✓ quiz8 MIN✓04Backing up a seed phrase properlyWrite the words, verify by restoring, move to metal for durability, keep two copies in two places, and never store them digitally.✓ quiz6 MIN✓05Multisig: when and howMultisig needs several keys to spend. It removes single points of failure for larger holdings, at the cost of setup, maintenance and explaining it to heirs.✓ quiz6 MIN✓06Managing UTXOsYour wallet is a pile of UTXOs. Many small ones cost more to spend and leak privacy. Consolidate when fees are low; keep KYC and non-KYC coins apart.✓ quiz⚡ challenge5 MIN✓07Privacy for holdersBitcoin is pseudonymous. Fresh addresses, your own node, separated coins, Lightning and CoinJoin each add privacy. KYC purchases link your identity; plan around it.▶ 1✓ quiz6 MIN✓08Security habits and threat modelsMost losses are ordinary mistakes. Passwords, 2FA, updates, address checks, tested backups and discretion cover most of the risk. Know your threat model.✓ quiz5 MIN✓09Inheritance: bitcoin that survives youSelf-custodied bitcoin without a plan dies with you. Choose a setup your heirs can actually execute, write instructions, and test them.✓ quiz6 MIN✓10Scams aimed at holdersHolders face different scams from buyers: fake support, fake updates, tampered hardware, dust, and "connect your wallet" sites. Know the shapes.✓ quiz5 MIN✓