New Research: Crypto Users Are Increasingly Relying on Self-Custody Solutions to Send, Receive, and Grow Assets

Why It Matters

Active self‑custody is becoming the backbone for trading, DeFi and spending, reshaping how crypto participants manage risk and growth. The trend signals a market opportunity for wallet providers and a need for better education to accelerate broader adoption.

Key Takeaways

• Cold‑wallet users trade 1.83× more than exchange users
• 46% of cold‑wallet holders are short‑term traders
• Cold‑wallet users hold 20 points more stablecoins than CEX users
• 66% view self‑custody as important, yet 88% keep assets on exchanges
• Adoption gaps stem from perceived complexity and lack of need

Pulse Analysis

The crypto ecosystem is witnessing a decisive shift toward active self‑custody, where users not only safeguard assets but also deploy them across trading, DeFi and everyday spend. Tangem’s newly released study, encompassing over 3,000 U.S. holders, reveals that cold‑wallet owners are markedly more engaged: they trade 1.83 times as often and allocate a higher share of stablecoins and altcoins than their centralized‑exchange counterparts. This behavior underscores a growing appetite for control‑centric tools that blend security with utility, positioning self‑custody as the emerging control layer of the market.

Beyond raw activity, the data highlights a nuanced portfolio strategy among cold‑wallet users. Nearly half of them hold stablecoins, and a sizable portion diversifies into non‑core assets, reflecting confidence in managing risk without relying on third‑party custodians. Tangem’s own financials corroborate the trend—2025 revenue surged to $61.3 million, a 102% year‑over‑year increase, while monthly active users grew 50% thanks to in‑app features that enable staking, lending and direct payments. These figures suggest that hardware‑wallet providers are successfully transitioning from pure storage devices to multifunctional financial hubs.

Despite the momentum, adoption remains constrained by perception gaps. While 66% of respondents deem self‑custody important and 46% fear exchange breaches, 88% still keep funds on centralized platforms. The primary barriers cited are a perceived lack of need, cost concerns and complexity. Education and user‑experience improvements are therefore critical levers for expanding the active self‑custody base. As familiarity rises, the market could see a rapid uptick in wallet usage, further fueling innovation in decentralized finance and on‑chain payments.