Bitcoin Self-Custody Guide

A free, practical guide to leave the exchange and keep your Bitcoin safe, from the first step to inheritance.

By Dione Folador · Updated November 6, 2026

Educational content. Not investment advice. No legitimate person will ever ask for your seed: not me, not wallet support, not an exchange.

Start with chapter 1

1
Self-Custody from Scratch: Why Leave the ExchangeWhat Bitcoin self-custody is, why "not your keys, not your coins" matters, and which risks you trade when you move your bitcoin off an exchange.
2
Hardware Wallet Step by StepHow to buy, set up, and use a Bitcoin hardware wallet safely: PIN, seed generated on the device, address checked on screen, and a test transaction.
3
12 or 24 Word Seed Phrase and the Recovery TestWhat a BIP39 seed is, how to write it down and store it on metal or paper, why you never photograph it, and how to run a recovery test before depositing.
4
Passphrase and Protection Against CoercionHow the BIP39 passphrase creates a hidden wallet, the risk of forgetting it, how to store it apart from the seed and how to use a decoy wallet.
5
Multisig: Self-Custody for Larger HoldingsHow 2-of-3 Bitcoin multisig works, why to mix hardware brands, how to back up the descriptor and sign with PSBT without overcomplicating it.
6
Your Own Bitcoin Node: Verify, Don't TrustWhy to run your own Bitcoin node, what it verifies, how it protects your privacy, hardware options and how to connect your wallet to it.
7
Bitcoin Privacy and Scam ProtectionHow to protect your Bitcoin from real scams (phishing, fake support, address poisoning, malware) and keep your privacy within the law.
8
Bitcoin Inheritance: How Your Family Gets AccessHow to build a Bitcoin inheritance plan for self-custody: instruction letter, splitting secrets, multisig, probate and tax reporting.

Want to do this with guidance?

In one-on-one mentoring, you set everything up on your own device, with me guiding each step.

Talk to Dione

About the author: Dione Folador

Dione Folador has been in the crypto market since 2011 and teaches Bitcoin self-custody and security to people who want to take control of their own wealth. On Instagram, he is @dionefol.