What is a non-custodial wallet?¶

A non-custodial wallet is a wallet where the user or another non-provider party controls the private keys.

Avoid the dangerous assumption¶

The dangerous assumption is that non-custodial means anonymous, untraceable or personally controlled by the device owner.

The wallet software may run on a phone, computer, browser extension or hardware device.

Transactions are authorised using locally controlled key material rather than a provider deciding whether to release funds.

Blockchain activity can still be visible publicly even where no provider holds a verified customer account.

Relevant evidence may include the wallet application, addresses, seed phrase, private keys, transaction history, connected websites, browser records and device artefacts.

A seed phrase may allow the wallet to be recreated on several devices.

The person holding one device may therefore not be the only controller.

The wallet may also be shared, stolen, imported or remotely accessed. Copies of the same seed phrase may exist on several devices or in several physical or cloud backups.

Do not open, update or connect the wallet unnecessarily.

Doing so may synchronise data, expose network information or risk affecting assets.

Preserve the device and seek specialist support where live value or sensitive key material is involved.

Attribution may require combining blockchain tracing with device, communication, exchange and contextual evidence.

A non-custodial wallet can still interact with exchanges or services that hold identifying records.

When reporting, distinguish the wallet software, key material, addresses, device and person proven to control them.

Operational takeaway¶

Treat a non-custodial wallet as user-controlled key infrastructure and establish control through device, key, blockchain and contextual evidence rather than provider registration alone.