Active Self-Custody Report
Security has evolved beyond storage
This report commissioned by Tangem and prepared by Protocol Theory explores on how self-custody is going active.
The three pillars of Active Self-Custody.
Cold wallets are increasingly described not just as places where assets are stored, but as devices that govern how assets are used. Security remains the foundation. The role expands from storage to control.
Store
Assets are secured offline, with ownership and approval clearly defined
Grow
Participation without surrendering custody. Users can manage positions, swap assets, and engage with protocols while retaining oversight
Spend
Everyday relevance. Secure balances, particularly stablecoins, can be used in bounded and intentional ways rather than sitting idle.
Main findings
Key data points from a survey of 3,172 U.S. crypto holders on the rise of active self-custody.
1.83x
More likely to actively trade
Hardware wallet users are 1.83x more likely to be active traders than passive holders.
66%
Respondents value self-custody
66% consider self-custody important — yet 88% still store assets on centralized exchanges.
53%
Adoption rise with knowledge
Hardware wallet adoption jumps 53 percentage points between users with no knowledge and those with more familiarity.
48%
Hardware users store stablecoins
Cold wallet users are 20 percentage points more likely to hold stablecoins than centralized exchange users (48% vs. 28%)
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