# Guides to keeping your crypto yours.

> Plain-English guides to crypto self-custody: moving off an exchange, backing up your seed phrase, spotting scams, and planning for the people who come after you. Written and checked by Simon Geils.

- [Seed phrase storage: where should I keep mine?](https://keycompass.co.uk/guides/seed-phrase-storage.md) — How to store a seed phrase safely: paper versus metal, where to keep it, how many copies to make, and the mistakes that get backups lost or stolen. (Backups, last checked 2026-10-08)
- [What is a seed phrase?](https://keycompass.co.uk/guides/what-is-a-seed-phrase.md) — What a seed phrase (recovery phrase) is, how it works, 12 vs 24 words, how it differs from a private key, and the scams that target it. (Getting started, last checked 2026-10-08)
- [How do I move crypto from an exchange to a hardware wallet?](https://keycompass.co.uk/guides/move-crypto-from-exchange-to-hardware-wallet.md) — Step-by-step: withdraw crypto from an exchange to your own hardware wallet, pick the right network, check the address and send a test amount first. (Getting started, last checked 2026-10-07)
- [How do I test my recovery phrase backup?](https://keycompass.co.uk/guides/test-recovery-phrase-backup.md) — How to check your seed phrase backup works without exposing it: the built-in checks on Ledger and Trezor, passphrases, multisig, and what to do if it fails. (Backups, last checked 2026-10-08)
- [I've lost my recovery phrase. What now?](https://keycompass.co.uk/lost-recovery-phrase.md) — Lost your crypto recovery phrase (seed phrase)? What can still be recovered, what cannot, how to tell which case you're in, and why recovery services are scams. (Recovery, last checked 2026-10-08)