Glossary
Cold Storage
Storing private keys on a device that has never been (and ideally never will be) connected to the internet, for long-term, high-value custody.
Cold storage is the strictest form of self-custody. A key is generated on an air-gapped device, the seed phrase is recorded on paper or metal, and the device is stored in a safe — never connected to the internet, never plugged into a daily-use machine.
Spending from cold storage involves either physically moving the device to a transaction-signing setup or using a watch-only wallet to prepare an unsigned transaction that the cold device signs. For treasury-sized balances, this is the baseline — convenience trades off too sharply against compromise risk otherwise.