# Cold Storage

> Keeping crypto on a device that is not connected to the internet. Safer for long-term holding.

Canonical URL: https://fudfomo.co/glossary/cold-storage
Source: What The Block! Dictionary v1.0 (last updated 2026-04-25), browsable at https://wtb.fudfomo.co.

## Definition

Cold storage means holding your crypto on a device that is not online: a hardware wallet, an air-gapped computer, or even a written-down seed phrase locked away.

Because the keys are never exposed to the internet, remote attackers cannot drain the funds. The trade-off is that spending takes more steps, so cold storage is best suited to amounts you want to keep for the long term.

## Related terms

- [Wallet](https://fudfomo.co/glossary/wallet): An app or device that holds the keys you need to spend and receive crypto.
- [Hot Wallet](https://fudfomo.co/glossary/hot-wallet): A wallet connected to the internet, like a phone app. Convenient for everyday use, less safe for big balances.
- [Seed Phrase](https://fudfomo.co/glossary/seed-phrase): A list of 12 or 24 ordinary words that backs up an entire wallet.
- [Custody](https://fudfomo.co/glossary/custody): Who holds your crypto and the keys to it. Self-custody means you do, custodial means a company does.

## See the full catalogue

What The Block! covers more than 2,000 plain-English crypto terms, delivered as embeddable hover-state tooltips for crypto exchanges. https://wtb.fudfomo.co