Crypto Basics

Foundational concepts every crypto user should know.

Brand-new to crypto, or returning after a long break? Start here. These guides cover wallets, addresses, transactions, gas, mempools, and finality — the vocabulary you need before you touch real funds.

SSP Academy square cover: comparing self-custody options

Comparing Self-Custody Options

Seed phrase, hardware wallet, MPC, multisig — an honest comparison of what each model actually guarantees, what it costs you, and how to pick.

7 min
SSP Academy cover for a beginner guide to mobile crypto wallets and SSP Key

Mobile Crypto Wallet: Strengths, Risks, and SSP Key

What mobile crypto wallets get right — always-on access, biometric unlock, QR scanning — where they fall short, and how SSP Key fits as a signer.

7 min
Illustration of a browser extension wallet protected by a sandbox and a 2-of-2 signing lock

Browser Extension Wallets, Explained

How browser extension wallets work, the security risks they carry, and how SSP contains them with LavaMoat sandboxing and a 2-of-2 design.

6 min
SSP Academy cover comparing a software wallet on a phone with a dedicated hardware wallet device

Software Wallet vs Hardware Wallet: A Guide

Software wallet vs hardware wallet, explained for beginners: what each is good at, where each is weak, and where SSP fits in between.

7 min
SSP Academy cover comparing a network-connected hot wallet with an offline cold wallet

Hot Wallet vs Cold Wallet: A Beginner Guide

Hot wallet vs cold wallet, explained for beginners: online convenience vs offline safety, what cold storage protects against, and the middle ground.

7 min
Illustration of a crypto wallet as a keyring holding private and public keys, with a blockchain ledger behind it

What Is a Crypto Wallet? Keys, Coins, and Control

A crypto wallet stores keys, not coins. Learn how private keys, public keys, addresses, and signatures work — and what a wallet really is.

7 min
Step-by-step illustration of an SSP wallet being set up on a phone and a browser

Setting up your first SSP wallet

Step-by-step setup guide for SSP Wallet: install the app and extension, pair two devices, generate a 2-of-2 wallet, and send your first transaction.

6 min
Square SSP Wallet brand cover with the SSP logo and self-custody icons.

Meet SSP Wallet: Self-Custody With 2-of-2 Multisig

SSP is a self-custody wallet with 2-of-2 multisig built in. Two devices co-sign every transaction; neither can move funds alone.

6 min