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The most important thing to protect is your wallet’s recovery phrase: anyone who gets it can control the wallet. Write it down and keep it securely offline. Never share it, photograph it, or save it in email, cloud storage, or a computer note. A presale token’s claim process depends on its project and blockchain, so verify the official instructions before connecting a wallet or signing anything.
What a wallet protects—and what it does not
A crypto wallet stores the private keys that let you access and authorize transactions for blockchain assets; the assets themselves remain on the blockchain. Ethereum.org describes wallets as tools for interacting with an Ethereum account and says users are responsible for protecting their funds. The SEC’s December 12, 2025 investor bulletin likewise explains that wallets hold private keys, not the crypto assets themselves, and describes custody as how and where people hold and access those assets.
In self-custody, you control the keys and must protect the recovery phrase used to restore access. Ethereum.org’s security guide says: “Never, for any reason, share your recovery phrase or private keys!” A person claiming to be project support, a wallet provider, or a buyer should not need them.
How to protect your recovery phrase
- Write it down offline. Record the phrase as your wallet provides it and keep the backup somewhere private and physically secure. Ethereum.org’s wallet guidance says: “Don’t store it on a computer.”
- Keep it out of digital storage. Do not take a screenshot or photo, or save it in a cloud note, email, messaging app, password manager, or computer file. Ethereum.org warns that screenshots may sync to cloud providers and become accessible to attackers.
- Do not enter it into a claim page or share it with anyone. A request for the phrase is a major warning sign. Do not follow instructions to “verify,” “unlock,” or “synchronize” a wallet by disclosing it.
- Keep the backup separate from routine access. Avoid leaving it where someone who can use your phone or computer could also find it. Choose a storage method you can still access if your device is lost or damaged.
Should you use a hardware wallet for presale tokens?
A hardware wallet keeps private keys offline, which can reduce exposure to malware or compromise on an internet-connected computer. Ethereum.org lists Ledger and Trezor as examples of hardware wallets; that is not a product test or a guarantee of safety. A hardware wallet cannot protect you if you reveal its recovery phrase or approve a malicious transaction.
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Before choosing or transferring assets to any wallet, check that it supports the presale’s blockchain and token standard, and follow the issuer’s official instructions. The title does not identify a project, network, or token, so there is no universally correct wallet model or claim procedure to recommend.
How to verify a presale claim before signing
Presale claims can attract phishing links and fake support messages. Find the project’s official site or channel independently rather than following an unsolicited direct message, advertisement, or random token link. Confirm the claim instructions against the project’s official documentation. If the project publishes a contract address, compare it carefully with the address shown in the wallet prompt and, where relevant, on the blockchain explorer for the correct network.
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- Confirm the network. Make sure the wallet is connected to the chain named in the project’s official claim instructions. A token or contract on a different network may not be the one you expect.
- Inspect the wallet prompt. Read the transaction or signature request before approving it. Check what action it authorizes, the destination or contract, and any token-spending permission.
- Limit spending permission. Avoid an unlimited smart-contract allowance when the wallet or transaction offers a lower amount that is sufficient. An approval can allow a contract to spend tokens; a malicious approval may continue to expose tokens after the initial interaction.
- Stop if details do not match. Do not sign if the wallet shows an unexpected network, contract, token, or permission, or if the project’s official instructions do not explain the request.
Exact claim steps vary. A presale may involve a token that has not yet been issued, a later claim, or a project-specific contract interaction; do not assume a token is already available simply because a page or message says so.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to do if you suspect a scam or compromise
- For a suspicious approval: use a trusted approval-checking tool for the relevant network to review and revoke permissions you do not recognize. Ethereum.org advises revoking token approvals after suspected compromise; revoking a permission does not restore assets already taken.
- If your recovery phrase or wallet is exposed: create a new secure wallet with a new recovery phrase on a device you believe is safe, then move remaining assets to it. Do not reuse the exposed phrase.
- Ignore recovery offers that request secrets: someone offering to recover funds should not need your recovery phrase or private keys.
Ethereum.org’s wallet and security guidance is available at its wallet guide and its security guide. Its scam guidance explains approvals and steps after suspected compromise: Ethereum.org scam guidance. The SEC’s custody background is in its December 12, 2025 investor bulletin.
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