CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju says self-custody is not safest for most users

Ki said personal control of private keys does not suit everyone, arguing that users often want accountability when problems arise and that the safest storage method is one they can manage.

Summary

CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju said self-custody is not automatically the safest way to store crypto for most users, comparing it to keeping gold at home during the American frontier despite frequent bank robberies. He argued that a home safe offers little protection without specialized knowledge, that users often want someone to hold accountable when problems arise, and that this helps explain why decentralized exchanges, or DEXs, remain a minority choice. In his view, the safest storage method is the one an individual can actually manage.

Terms & Concepts
  • self-custody: Holding crypto in a wallet controlled directly by the owner rather than by a third party.
  • private keys: Secret credentials that give the holder control over a crypto wallet and its assets.
  • DEXs: Decentralized exchanges that let users trade directly from their wallets without a centralized intermediary.