Protect both your sign-in and the custody arrangement: secure the email account tied to the exchange, use strong unique credentials and the best supported multifactor authentication, restrict withdrawals where possible, and understand who controls the crypto’s private keys. These steps reduce some account-takeover risks, but they cannot eliminate the risk that a custodian becomes unavailable.
Know what account security can—and cannot—protect
A crypto wallet does not hold cryptocurrency itself; it holds the private keys used to authorize transactions. When an exchange or other third party provides custody, that provider controls access to the keys. With self-custody, the holder controls the keys and is responsible for their recovery. Coinbase explains the distinction between exchange custody and self-custody.
Securing your exchange login helps guard against someone taking over your account. It does not give you control of keys held by the provider or guarantee that the provider will remain available. The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Assistance says, “If the third-party custodian is hacked, shuts down, or goes bankrupt, you may lose access to your crypto assets.” The statement appears in its Dec. 12, 2025 Investor Bulletin on crypto asset custody. The bulletin represents the office’s staff views and is educational; it is not a Commission rule or regulation.
Secure the email account linked to the exchange
Email is part of the exchange account’s security boundary: a provider may use it for alerts, new-device confirmations, and support communication. If someone can access that inbox, exchange protections may be easier to defeat.
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- Effortlessly build your crypto portfolio via the all in one Ledger Wallet app: buy, sell, send, receive, swap, stake and more across popular blockchains. 15,000+ coins & tokens in a single dashboard. Keep a close eye on the market. Compare service providers. Track performance. Get timely alerts. Build your portfolio with confidence.
- Enjoy Bluetooth connectivity, iOS access, and hours of battery use with this mobile-first, secure backup signer. Freedom you can depend on.
- Genuine Check: confirm your signer is authentic during setup with the Ledger Wallet app.
- Protect your signer: keep it in mint condition at all times with a bespoke Pod or Case to avoid scratches and everyday wear and tear.
- Give the email account a unique, strong password; do not reuse the exchange password.
- Turn on the strongest multifactor authentication the email provider supports.
- Use a password manager to generate and retain unique passwords for both accounts.
- Review the email provider’s active sessions and recovery options, and remove anything you do not recognize.
Strengthen exchange sign-in and review access
Use a unique password for the exchange and enable its strongest supported second factor. Coinbase recommends a security key or passkey for 2-step verification; available methods vary by provider. A physical security key is an optional way to implement stronger sign-in, but verify that it works with both the exchange and the linked email provider before buying one. It protects an authentication step; it does not remove custody risk or make phishing impossible. Coinbase’s account-security guidance covers these measures.
Also review active sessions, authorized applications, and confirmed devices in the exchange account. Revoke access you do not recognize, then follow the provider’s official account-recovery instructions if you suspect someone else has signed in.
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Reduce phishing and fake-support risks
Go to the exchange by typing its address or using a bookmark you saved yourself. Do not sign in through an unexpected email or text link, and be wary of unsolicited calls, ads, messages, and search results offering urgent account recovery. Use the provider’s official help center reached independently.
Coinbase says its staff will not ask for your password, verification codes, access to your email, remote-support software, or money to resolve an account issue. That is Coinbase-specific guidance, not a claim about every provider. Never disclose a password or verification code to someone who contacts you claiming to be support. Coinbase’s security page also warns about fake support numbers and websites.
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Limit where withdrawals can go
If your provider offers an address allowlist, consider enabling it and adding only withdrawal addresses you have independently verified. Check the address and the cryptocurrency network before saving or using an address; a correct-looking address on the wrong network may not reach the intended destination.
Newly added addresses may be subject to a waiting period, and the exact control depends on the product. Coinbase’s published guidance describes a 48-hour wait before a new address can be used on Coinbase.com; Coinbase Global Exchange describes a 24-hour period for some changes, while Coinbase Exchange documentation describes 48-hour holds in some cases. These are not interchangeable rules. Check your own product’s current instructions and restrictions before relying on an allowlist. Coinbase’s allowlist instructions provide product-specific details.
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Evaluate the custodian, not just the login
Before keeping assets with an exchange or custody provider, read its account terms and investigate how custody works. The SEC bulletin identifies questions retail investors can ask; they are comparison criteria, not a ranking of providers.
- Key control: Who controls the private keys, and what does that mean for your ability to authorize transfers?
- Storage: Does the provider use hot wallets, cold wallets, or both? Is storage outsourced or subcontracted?
- Access and recovery: What identity checks, recovery steps, withdrawal limits, and delays apply?
- Fees: What account, transaction, transfer, setup, or closure charges apply?
- Terms: What does the customer agreement say about custody, access, withdrawals, and what happens if the provider cannot operate?
A cold-storage description alone does not answer questions about legal, operational, provider, or access risks. The SEC’s custody bulletin advises researching the custodian and asking whether storage is subcontracted.
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- Connectivity: USB-C cable connection only. No Bluetooth.Compatible with the Ledger Wallet crypto app, both desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux) and mobile (Android only). Not compatible with iOS.
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