Good reasons to buy one
- You plan to hold crypto for months or years.
- Your balance is large enough that losing it would hurt.
- You do not need to trade the funds every day.
- You want more control than exchange custody provides.
When an exchange may still be simpler
If you are testing with a tiny amount, actively trading, or still learning the basics, an exchange may be easier at first. The key is to understand the custody tradeoff.
Next step
Compare hardware wallets, then review exchange options for buying and moving assets safely.