Immediate Custody

Time Required: 8 minutes

Why This Matters

Bitcoin on an exchange is NOT truly yours
The exchange can freeze, lose, or get hacked
"Get your Bitcoin off exchanges" - this is THE rule
Moving to self-custody takes 8 minutes and protects you forever

📱 Choose Your First Wallet (1 minute)

You need a mobile wallet that's beginner-friendly but real self-custody. These are the best options:

Blue Wallet

iOS • Android

Easiest to use
Lightning ready
Free, open source
Best for beginners

Muun

iOS • Android

Very simple interface
Built-in Lightning
No setup complexity
Great backup system

Phoenix

iOS • Android

Lightning-first wallet
Extremely fast
Auto-backup option
Low on-chain fees

Our Recommendation

Blue Wallet if you want the simplest, most tested option
Muun if you want zero complexity
Phoenix if you plan to use Lightning frequently
All three are excellent. Just pick one and move forward.

⚙️ Setup Your Wallet (3 minutes)

Step 1: Download & Install

Go to your phone's app store. Search for "Blue Wallet" (or Muun/Phoenix). Download and open the app.

Step 2: Create New Wallet

Tap "Add Wallet" or "Create Wallet". Choose "Bitcoin" (not Lightning yet). Give it a name like "My Bitcoin".

Step 3: Write Down Your Seed Phrase (CRITICAL)

The app will show you 12 or 24 words. This is your seed phrase or recovery phrase.

⚠️ CRITICAL: Seed Phrase Rules

Write it on PAPER (not phone, not computer, not cloud)
Write it EXACTLY as shown (order matters, spelling matters)
Store it somewhere SAFE (we'll improve storage in Module 3)
NEVER type it into any website or app except your wallet
NEVER share it with anyone - not even "support"

Step 4: Verify Your Backup

The wallet will ask you to confirm your seed phrase. This ensures you wrote it correctly. Don't skip this step!

📬 Get Your First Bitcoin Address (1 minute)

A Bitcoin address is like an email address for receiving bitcoin.

Open your new wallet
Tap "Receive" or the receive icon
You'll see a QR code and a long string starting with "bc1" or "3"
This is your address! You can receive bitcoin to this address.

🧪 Try It: Check Bitcoin Address Formats

See what different Bitcoin address types look like:

                    Click a button to generate a sample address
                

What to look for: Your wallet will likely show a bc1 address (best) or 3 address (also good). Avoid wallets that only generate "1" addresses - they're outdated.

What's This Address?

It's like a bank account number, but better
You can share it publicly - it's safe
Each wallet can generate unlimited addresses
All addresses connect to the same wallet

Withdraw From Exchange to Your Wallet (3 minutes)

Now move your bitcoin from Cash App (or Coinbase) to YOUR wallet.

From Cash App:

Open Cash App → Bitcoin section
Tap your balance → "Withdraw Bitcoin"
Paste your wallet address (or scan QR code)
Enter the amount (start with your test $20)
Confirm and wait 10-30 minutes for blockchain confirmation

From Coinbase:

Open Coinbase → Bitcoin balance
Tap "Send" → "Send Bitcoin"
Paste your wallet address
Enter amount → Review → Confirm
Wait for confirmation (10-30 minutes)

⚠️ Double-Check Address!

Bitcoin transactions are IRREVERSIBLE
Always verify the first and last 4 characters of the address
Use copy/paste or QR code - NEVER type manually
Start with small amounts until you're confident

✅ Complete Self-Custody Setup

Download and install wallet (Blue Wallet, Muun, or Phoenix)
Create new Bitcoin wallet in the app
Write down seed phrase on paper (12 or 24 words)
Verify seed phrase backup in the app
Generate your first receiving address
Withdraw bitcoin from exchange to your wallet
Confirm bitcoin arrived in your wallet (wait 10-30 min)

🛠️ Want More Wallet Practice?

Try our interactive Wallet Security Workshop to explore wallet features and security settings in a safe environment.

Open Wallet Security Workshop →

Opens in new tab • Takes 5-10 minutes

What You Just Accomplished

🏁 You Now Have REAL Bitcoin Sovereignty!

You control your bitcoin - no bank, no exchange, no third party
You have a seed phrase that can recover your funds anywhere
You understand the difference between exchange custody and self-custody
Next: You'll learn how to protect that seed phrase properly (Module 3)

🔐 Workshop: Wallet Security Basics

Interactive guide to choosing the right wallet type and understanding security trade-offs. Perfect primer before setting up your first wallet.

Start Workshop →