Lesson 01
The Illusion of Ownership
Who really holds your funds?
When you keep money in a bank or on a crypto exchange (like Binance or Coinbase), you don't own the money. You only own a promise that the institution will give it back when you ask.
In the crypto world, we call this Custodial. Your private keys belong to them. If the exchange collapses or freezes your account, your funds disappear.
Real-Life Analogy
Deposit Box
Custodial: It's like leaving your valuables in a hotel safe deposit box. You have a receipt and a promise you can retrieve them, but someone else has physical access to the safe.
Non-Custodial: It's like having your own personal safe — only you have access, but if you lose the key, no one can open it for you.
You
Institution
"Not your keys, not your coins"
Traditional Model / CEX