# Self-Custody

Self-custody is the foundational principle of true ownership in crypto, best summarized by the phrase: 

> "Not your keys, not your assets."

#### What it Means

It means you, and only you, hold the private keys (the cryptographic secret) that grant access to and control over your crypto assets.

When you self-custody your funds, you eliminate the need to trust a third party (like an exchange or a central bank) to hold your assets for you. You have complete, autonomous control to send, receive, and manage your assets anytime, without permission or potential interference.

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## The Trade-off

Self-custody means you have **full responsibility** over your assets, **you are your own bank**. You can freely use your assets, but If you lose the access, those funds are lost forever. **No one, not PIVY or your wallet provider**, can get them back for you.
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