Crypto Risk Management: Securing Your Funds!

Crypto Risk Management

Storing your cryptocurrencies in exchanges might be risky, and it is dangerous to leave them there for extended periods. Cryptocurrency platforms have been plagued with bugs, hacks, and exploits that have resulted in millions of dollars in losses in their brief history. This is why crypto risk management is important to take your wealth off of exchanges and into your own hands.

Risks of Crypto Exchanges

Exchanges are a popular target for hackers because they store large amounts of money in digital wallets. If an exchange is hacked, the hacker can make off with a large sum of money, and there is no guarantee that you will be able to get your money back. It doesn’t matter whether you want to buy bitcoin online with debit card or to exchange a crypto pair – you should always think about security.

Another risk to consider is that exchanges can go bankrupt. This happened with Mt. Gox, which was once the largest Bitcoin exchange. Mt. Gox went bankrupt in 2014 after it was revealed that 850,000 Bitcoins were stolen from the exchange. This led to a lot of people losing their money, as they were unable to get their funds back from the bankrupt exchange.

How to Store Your Cryptocurrency Safe

There are a few different ways to store your cryptocurrencies. The most popular storage option is a wallet, which can take many different forms:

  • Hardware wallets;
  • Paper wallets;
  • Software wallets.

Hardware wallets are physical devices that securely store your private keys and keep them offline. They’re considered to be one of the most secure storage options, as they’re not connected to the internet and are therefore very difficult to hack.

Another option is a paper wallet, which is simply a piece of paper with your private keys printed on it. This might sound insecure, but if you keep your paper wallet in a safe place, it can be a very secure way to store your cryptocurrency.

You can also use a software wallet, which is a program that stores your private keys on your computer or mobile device. Software wallets are convenient because they’re easy to use, but they’re not as secure as hardware wallets because they’re connected to the internet.

No matter which storage option you choose, it’s important to keep your private keys safe. If you lose your private keys, you will lose access to your cryptocurrencies.

Is Cold Storage the Safest Option?

The best way to store your cryptocurrency is in cold storage. Cold storage refers to storing your private keys offline. This can be done on a physical device, such as a hardware wallet, or it can be done on a piece of paper.

Cold storage is the safest way to store your cryptocurrency because it’s not connected to the internet, which makes it impossible for hackers to access. Cold storage is also convenient because you can store it anywhere, such as in a safe deposit box or in a drawer.

The downside of cold storage is that it’s not as convenient as other storage options. If you want to use your cryptocurrency, you will need to take it out of cold storage and put it in a hot wallet. A hot wallet is a wallet that is connected to the internet. They are convenient because they’re easy to use, but they’re not as secure. Often they are more susceptible to hacks.

How to Cash Out Your Cryptocurrency

If you want to cash out your cryptocurrency, you will need to find a buyer who is willing to pay you in fiat currency, such as dollars or euros. This can be done through online exchanges or peer-to-peer marketplaces.

Once you’ve found a buyer, you will need to send them your cryptocurrency. To do this, you will need to give them your public key, which is like your cryptocurrency’s address. The buyer will then send you the fiat currency to your bank account. It’s important to remember that you are responsible for paying any taxes on the sale of your cryptocurrency.

Conclusion

It’s crucial to take measures in crypto risk management to protect your wealth by storing your cryptocurrencies in a safe place. There are many different storage options available, and the best option for you will depend on your needs.

If you want the highest level of security, you should store your cryptocurrency in cold storage. However, if you want convenience, you might prefer to use a hot wallet. No matter which storage option you choose, it’s important to keep your private keys safe. 

Crypto risk management article and permission to publish here provided by Astrid Meier. Originally written for Supply Chain Game Changer and published on September 17, 2022.