Lesson 19: Mastering Self-Custody With BTC Sessions

Preview

Once you’ve made the decision on where to buy your Bitcoin, the next step is how to secure your Bitcoin. It is generally advised that you do not store your Bitcoin on an exchange. When you do, the exchange typically has access to your keys, and therefore they have access to your Bitcoin. If they are hacked, or if they do anything to put your Bitcoin at risk, you are at risk of losing all your Bitcoin. Pulling your Bitcoin off of an exchange into self-custody is how you eliminate that third party risk. Make no mistake, eliminating third-party risk, definitely increases the level of personal responsibility on your end. But the good news, is that you are not alone! In this lesson we hear from BTC Sessions with an overview of everything we need to know to get started with self-custody. BTC Sessions has a YouTube channel completely dedicated to tutorials for those new to Bitcoin. I strongly recommend visiting their channel to learn everything you need to know to empower you on your Bitcoin journey!

Lastly, it is recommended you review the Additional Resources section below each lesson as there are some helpful resources included for your benefit.

Mastering Self-Custody With BTC Sessions

Key Takeaways

• Start with three fundamentals:
  • How to obtain Bitcoin (exchange, ATM, or other method),
  • How to use Bitcoin (send/receive your first transaction), and
  • How to secure Bitcoin (backups, deleting/recovering a wallet, understanding seed phrases).
• Begin with simple tools, then level up: New users should install a beginner-friendly mobile wallet (e.g., Aqua Wallet) and buy Bitcoin on an exchange—then immediately withdraw to self-custody so they learn to control their own keys.
• Build confidence early: Send Bitcoin to yourself, view the transaction on a block explorer, then delete and restore the wallet using your seed phrase to prove you truly own your Bitcoin.
• Graduate to hardware and multisig as your balance grows: Use a hardware wallet once amounts exceed what you’d feel comfortable carrying as cash; consider multisig for added protection, fault tolerance, and plausible deniability.
• Explore advanced tools over time: Products like Coldcard, TapSigner, Start9 nodes, and Lightning wallets offer better privacy, security, and Lightning functionality—but are optional until the beginner is ready.

Additional Resources

• Best Bitcoin Hardware Wallet? Side-by-Side Comparison (2025 Edition)
• How To Get Started With Self-Custody – River.com/learn
• BTC Sessions YouTube Channel