How to self-custody your crypto with Blockchain.com

No phrase in crypto has proven more true over the past few months as: “not your keys, not your crypto.”

Before you start

This article works best if you

• already own crypto — even on apps/exchanges besides Blockchain.com
• already have a Blockchain.com Wallet account (web or app)

If you don’t own crypto or have a Blockchain.com Wallet account, sign up today.

Receiving crypto via the Blockchain.com App

1. Open the App, and navigate to the DeFi tab
2. Select Receive
3. Type the name or symbol of a cryptocurrency like “Bitcoin” or “BTC.
4. Select the crypto to reveal options to Copy Address or Share Address
5. Ensure the address is correctly pasted or entered by the sender
6. To monitor incoming transactions, visit the Activity tab.

Sending crypto via the Blockchain.com App

1. Open the App, and navigate to the DeFi tab
2. Select Send
3. Type the name or symbol of a cryptocurrency like “Bitcoin” or “BTC.
4. Select the crypto to reveal the Send details, and enter the receiving address
5. Enter the amount you’re sending and review the transaction fee
6. Select Continue to review your transaction details and fees
7. Click Send to confirm.

A note on networks

If you have crypto across multiple networks, check that you’re sending and receiving to the right ones, especially if you’re consolidating balances from multiple places.

When you send or receive from your Blockchain.com Wallet, the network’s name is displayed on the Send or Receive screen. If the destination account does not support this network, the funds will not be credited to your other account and may be lost.

If the funds are sent on a network other than the one indicated, they won’t be credited to your wallet and may be lost.

Backing up your wallets

The most important step you can take to secure your Wallet is to write down your Secret Private Key Recovery Phrase and keep it somewhere safe offline.

This phrase contains the private keys to your Wallet, allowing you to restore your Wallet and access your funds.

🔐 When it comes to creating and backing up your wallet, Blockchain uses the current industry standard. Our wallet implements BIP44 to generate accounts and addresses, and BIP39 to generate the Secret Private Key Recovery Phrase (or seed, as it is also called). The recovery phrase generated in your Blockchain wallet is compatible with other bitcoin wallets that implement BIP44/BIP39.

Once the wallet is backed up it is backed up forever, regardless of how many funds you send or receive over time.

Private keys grant complete access to funds kept at those crypto addresses. For this reason, you should never share this information with anyone.

To back up your wallet, follow these steps

1. Go to Setting
2. Scroll down to Security and tap Backup phrase
3. Tap and hold the blurred image
4. Write down your phrase, and store it securely.