ICP custody options
From Internet Computer Wiki
Options: Maximum ease or maximum control?
To custody your ICP, you have many options, each with different security and usability trade-offs. Choosing your setup is usually where people get most stuck.
- Maximum control of your keys?
- No, then use 3rd party custody solutions
- Yes, then use self-custody
- ICP Custody with NNS frontend dapp. (self-custody option with maximum ease)
- Hardware wallet + networked computer
- Quill Minimalistic ledger and governance toolkit for cold wallets
- Networked computer
- Airgapped computer + networked smartphone (self-custody option with maximum control)
Examples if you prefer to have maximum control of your keys
Sef-custody: Maximum Ease Option
Use Internet Identity with the NNS frontend dapp.
Read more: ICP Custody with NNS frontend dapp
Traits
- Most convenient. Entirely web-based. No need to download or install anything.
- NNS frontend dapp has all the functionality you need
- This is a very common method
- Ideal for people who want to want the easiest path to control their ICP
Maximum Control Option
Use your seed phrase directly with a few options for self-custody tools.
Traits
- This option requires more technical understanding
- User has the most control over their ICP.
- This is the safest option from a software point of view because the user is relying on less software surface area, but it is the riskiest from a human point of view in that it puts the risk of the user's seed phrase and private key custody on them.
- Ideal for people who want as much control over their ICP as possible