security

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In my interactions with people at conferences or just regular catchups, they often ask me, “Do I need to know how to code to keep my crypto safe?” To be honest, my answer is always a firm ‘no.’ Over the years, I have spent working in cryptography and wallet security, and one thing I’ve learned is that staying safe isn’t about writing code. It’s about being careful, aware, and knowing what matters.

Summary

• Crypto security isn’t just about wallets: It’s about the rules governing how keys are stored, accessed, and used — the lock matters as much as the vault.
• Multisig and MPC made simple: Think of them as group locks or shared approvals, reducing single points of failure and making funds harder to compromise.
• Security goes beyond code: Policies, people, and processes — like recovery plans and oversight — are just as important as cryptography.
• Education is key: Users don’t need to be coders; by asking the right questions and understanding basic concepts, anyone can take ownership of their crypto safety.

In fact, as digital assets enter the mainstream, whether through stablecoins, tokenized assets, or everyday wallets, understanding the basics of security is no longer optional. Just like you don’t need to be a mechanic to drive safely, you don’t need to be a coder to understand what keeps your crypto safe.

Myth #1: Security = where you store your crypto

Most new users think the security of their crypto begins and ends with “which wallet” or “which exchange” they use. But the real story is deeper.

A wallet isn’t just an app on your phone. It’s the system of rules and protections that determine how your private keys are stored, who can access them, and how transactions are approved. In simple terms, the vault is only as good as the lock, and the lock is only as good as the rules that decide who holds the keys.

Understanding this doesn’t require coding skills. It requires asking better questions:

–    Does this wallet allow multiple approvals (like multiple signatures)?

–    What happens if I lose access to my device?

–    Can a single person move funds, or is there shared control?

–    If you can ask these questions, you’re already thinking like a security architect.

Myth #2: Multisig and MPC are too technical to understand

Two of the most common terms you’ll hear in wallet security are multisig and multi-party computation. They sound intimidating, but the ideas are straightforward.

Think of the concept of multisig like a bank vault that needs three keys to open. Think of multisig like a bank vault that needs three keys to open. Different people hold different keys, and you need all or most of them together to unlock the vault.

Now, MPC is a little different. With MPC, the keys themselves are never assembled. Instead, each person contributes their part to the “action,” and the action (like approving a transaction) is completed without ever reconstructing the key. It’s like buying a group gift where nobody knows exactly how much each person paid, but the present still gets delivered.

Both models are designed to reduce single points of failure. And while the implementation is technical, the logic is something anyone can understand.

Myth #3: Security is just about code

Security in crypto isn’t only about algorithms or programming. It’s also about policies, people, and processes.

Consider this: the strongest cryptography in the world won’t help if an insider at a company has unchecked access to customer funds. Similarly, a wallet with brilliant engineering can still fail if there’s no recovery plan when a user loses access.

That’s why the most secure custody systems combine mathematics with human design. They enforce rules about who can approve what, set boundaries for how much can move at once, and provide recovery options if things go wrong.

Staying informed is another key habit. Crypto changes fast. Platforms update, new scams pop up, and new opportunities arrive daily. Following credible sources, listening to experienced voices, and asking questions can help you navigate it all. As Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum’s (ETH) co-founder, once said, “Crypto is not just about trading tokens; it’s part of a broader ethos of protecting freedom and privacy.” You don’t need to code to understand that message.

In other words, crypto security is as much about coordination and trust as it is about code. The world is moving fast. Stablecoins are being adopted by payment giants. Traditional banks are exploring tokenized deposits. Every day, people are using wallets to hold digital value, sometimes without realizing the risks involved.

In this environment, security cannot remain a “black box” reserved for engineers. Users, regulators, and institutions need to understand the principles, even if they never touch the math.

The good news is that the concepts aren’t complicated when explained in plain language. We all understand the idea of locks, safes, approvals, and shared control. Crypto security builds on these same human concepts, with cryptography as the invisible engine underneath.

Ask better questions

When you’re evaluating a wallet or custody provider, don’t just ask “is it secure?” Ask:

–    How are keys stored?

–    Who has the authority to approve transactions?

–    What happens if one party is compromised?

–    Is the system designed to fail safely?

These questions don’t require coding skills. They require curiosity and a willingness to demand transparency from the infrastructure you rely on.

The beauty of cryptography is that it takes human concepts like privacy, trust, and shared control and turns them into digital systems. But for those systems to succeed, people need to trust them. And trust comes from understanding.

You don’t have to be a coder to understand crypto security. You just need to know the right questions to ask, and the right analogies to make sense of the answers. The future of digital assets depends on making these invisible systems visible and accessible to everyone.

Sharmila S

Dr. Sharmila S is the Principal Scientist at Liminal Custody, with over 18 years of expertise in cryptography, blockchain security, and multiparty computation. She leads Liminal’s cryptography research, advancing MPC protocols, threshold cryptography, and post-quantum security. Previously, she held roles at Microsoft Research India, IIT Madras, ZebPay, and several blockchain startups. She holds a PhD in cryptographic systems, with research spanning proxy re-encryption, signcryption, and aggregated signatures, and is co-inventor on a U.S. patent for key recovery. At Liminal, Dr. Sharmila architects the MPC-TSS custody infrastructure, ensuring scalability, verifiability, and resilience. A recognized thought leader, she bridges theoretical cryptography with real-world blockchain applications, reinforcing Liminal’s mission to build secure, audit-ready, and regulation-aligned digital asset infrastructure.

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