Top 10 Crypto Safety Rules Every Beginner Must Know (2025 Guide)

Hey, it’s Lanzo 👋
If you’re new to crypto, here’s the truth: profits come and go, but mistakes stick.
Before you chase the next shiny coin, build a simple security routine that protects you from the most common ways people lose money.

In this guide you’ll learn:

• The 10 safety rules every beginner should follow in 2025
• How to avoid phishing, fake apps, and social scams
• The right way to store seed phrases and use 2FA
• When to choose a hot vs cold wallet
• Practical tips you can set up in under an hour

1) Use unique passwords + a password manager 🔐

The most boring rule is also the most effective. Reusing passwords across exchanges, wallets, email, and your password manager (yes, I’ve seen it) is how accounts get chained-hacked.

Do this now:

• Pick a password manager (Bitwarden or 1Password are great).
• Generate unique, long (20–30 chars) passwords for exchange logins and your email (email recovery = master key).
• Store recovery codes inside the manager’s secure notes, not in screenshots or Notes app.

2) Turn on 2FA — but not SMS 📲

Two-factor authentication (2FA) blocks the majority of account takeovers.
Use TOTP apps like Google Authenticator, Aegis, or Authy. Avoid SMS — it’s vulnerable to SIM swaps.

Checklist:

• Exchange accounts: TOTP on.
• Email: TOTP on.
• Password manager: TOTP on.
• Save backup codes in your manager’s secure vault.

3) Treat seed phrases like cash (because they are) 🧾

Your 12–24 word seed can restore your wallet anywhere. Anyone who sees it can take everything.

Golden rules:

• Never type your seed into a website or share it in a “support chat.”
• Write it by hand. No photos, screenshots, cloud, printers, or email.
• Store in two separate locations (e.g., home safe + trusted relative’s safe).
• Upgrade later to a metal backup for fire/water resistance.

Related: How to Protect Your Recovery Phrase

4) Cold storage for savings, hot wallet for coffee money 🧊🔥

Hot wallets (phone/browser) are convenient but exposed to malware and phishing.
Cold wallets (hardware devices like Ledger) keep private keys offline.

Use both:

• Cold wallet for long-term holdings (BTC/ETH stack).
• Hot wallet for small, active balances and DeFi exploration.

More: Hot Wallets vs Cold Wallets: Which to Use?

5) Verify URLs and download sources — every single time 🌐

Phishing sites look pixel-perfect. The difference is a single letter in the domain.

Safe habits:

• Bookmark official sites and only open from bookmarks:
  • Ledger Official Site
  • Bybit EU (Official)
  • Lanzo
• Check the address bar on mobile — long domains get truncated.
• Install wallets from official domains or verified app stores.
• For browser extensions, verify publisher + download count.

6) Don’t keep everything on exchanges 🏦

Exchanges are great for liquidity, not for long-term storage. Even reputable platforms can freeze withdrawals or face outages at the worst possible time.

Better pattern:

1. Buy on exchange.
2. Withdraw to your self-custody wallet.
3. Keep only what you actively trade on the exchange.

If you’re new to withdrawing, read: How to Make Your First Payment/Transfer

7) Triple-check addresses, networks, and memos 🧭

Users lose funds by sending to the wrong chain (ERC-20 vs TRC-20) or forgetting the memo/tag (XRP/XLM).

Mini-checklist:

• Address matches chain and format.
• Memo/Tag present when required.
• Do a test transaction with a small amount first.

You can find quick explanations in the Crypto Terms (see Memo/Tag, Checksum, Transaction).

8) Keep devices clean and updated 🧼

Outdated OS, extensions you don’t recognize, cracked software — all increase risk.

Good hygiene:

• Update OS, browser, and wallet firmware regularly.
• Minimal extensions; remove what you don’t use.
• Use a standard browser profile for crypto (no random extensions).
• Optional: run wallet ops on a separate user account or device.

9) Be allergic to “guaranteed returns” and pressure tactics 🚫

Scams often promise: “Risk-free, 5% a day,” or artificially rush you: “Offer ends tonight.”
Real opportunities don’t need ultimatums.

Red flags:

• Screenshots of “insane profits.”
• “Team” with no verifiable history.
• Locked/over-moderated communities.
• Smart contracts with no audits or public code.

If in doubt, walk away. There will always be another trade.

10) Document your setup (for you or your family) 🗂️

If something happens to you, can a trusted person recover funds without your phone and brain? Create a simple, non-digital ops sheet:

• Where the seed backups are stored.
• Which wallets, devices, and passkeys exist.
• Who to contact for guidance (no seed exposure).
• High-level process to restore (no passwords in plain text).

Keep it sealed and separate from your seed backups.

Bonus: Simple security stack (60 minutes)

• Password manager installed + unique passwords ✅
• TOTP 2FA on exchange + email ✅
• Bookmarked official URLs ✅
• Hot wallet for small funds, Ledger for savings ✅
• Seed on paper (later metal), stored in 2 locations ✅
• Test withdrawal completed ✅

Common mistakes to avoid ❌

• Keeping everything on one exchange or one device.
• Screenshotting your seed phrase.
• Installing random wallet apps or “yield boosters.”
• Using SMS 2FA because it’s “easy.”
• Chasing “airdrops” that ask you to connect a hot wallet with valuable funds.
• Sending without a test transaction first.

Real-world example (how people get phished) 🕵️

1. You receive an email: “Security issue: verify your Ledger.”
2. The link opens a near-perfect look-alike domain.
3. You’re asked to “re-enter your 24 words to restore.”
4. Minutes later, your wallet is empty.

Preventable by: bookmarking official links, ignoring unsolicited DMs/emails, and remembering that no one legitimate will ever ask for your seed.

TL;DR 📌

• Password manager + TOTP 2FA on day one.
• Cold storage for savings, hot wallet for pocket change.
• Bookmark official URLs; never type seeds online.
• Test transactions and double-check chain + memo.
• If it sounds guaranteed, it’s a scam.

Start protecting your crypto today 🔒

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