What is a self-custodial wallet?
MetaMask is a self-custodial (non-custodial) crypto wallet, which means you control your own funds and access. In a self-custodial wallet, you hold the master key to unlocking your wallet. There’s no middleman between you and your crypto.
Because of this:
- Only you can access your wallet
- MetaMask cannot recover or control your funds if you lose your SRP or password
MetaMask cannot access your Secret Recovery Phrases. Please keep your SRP and password secure. Learn more about the elements that protect your wallet here.
If you've connected your Google or Apple account to MetaMask, your SRP is sharded across five different servers and encrypted. Only the combination of your Google/Apple account and your password can decrypt and access your SRP; MetaMask cannot access it for you.
Remember: We will never ask for your SRP, private keys, or password.
There are a lot of benefits to using a self-custody wallet. For example:
- No institution can manipulate your access to your funds. Ever heard the phrase "not your keys, not your crypto"? Well, this is what it refers to. If you use a custodial wallet, where an organization or third party essentially controls the wallet, and acts according to your instructions, there's very little other than trust preventing the custodian from making off with your funds.
- No merchant you transact with via MetaMask can access more of your personal data than you reveal.
The trade-off? Because a MetaMask wallet is self-managed, the responsibility for keeping that wallet safe is entirely yours.
Never ever share your SRP with anyone. Sharing your SRP with someone would be like handing over the PIN code to your bank card, or the keys to your house. It would give that person the ability to access and transfer all of your funds. The MetaMask team will never ask you for it. If anyone or any website asks you to share it, they're trying to scam you.