Swiss hardware wallet manufacturer Tangem released an independent research report on July 01, 2026 examining self-custody trends in the digital asset market. The study, titled From Storage to Participation: The Rise of Active Self-Custody, was commissioned by Tangem and prepared by consumer research firm Protocol Theory based on responses from more than 3,100 cryptocurrency users in the United States. The research found that 66% of surveyed cryptocurrency users consider self-custody important, yet only 15% currently use cold wallets, revealing a significant gap between perceived importance and actual adoption. The report explores how investors are increasingly using self-custody products beyond secure storage to actively manage, transfer and spend cryptocurrencies while maintaining control over private keys. Hardware wallets are evolving from passive storage devices into operational tools for decentralized finance, blockchain applications and digital payments without requiring users to transfer asset ownership to third parties.
Research Reveals Self-Custody Adoption Gap Among Crypto Users
The research identified a significant disparity between how users value self-custody and their actual adoption of cold wallet technology. According to the report, 66% of surveyed cryptocurrency users said self-custody is important, but only 15% currently use cold wallets. The study found that 88% of users continue to store digital assets on centralized exchanges despite 46% expressing concerns about major exchange security breaches.
The report challenged the perception that hardware wallets serve primarily long-term holders. Only 9% of cold wallet users identified themselves as passive investors, compared with 25% of users who keep assets on centralized cryptocurrency exchanges. Active traders were found to be 1.8 times more likely to use cold wallets than passive investors, suggesting that self-custody has become increasingly integrated into active investment strategies.
Researchers identified the most common obstacles to adopting cold wallets as the belief that they are unnecessary or intended only for large portfolios and long-term investors, followed by concerns over complexity and cost. The report indicated that adoption rises substantially as users become more familiar with self-custody technology, with awareness of cold wallets remaining significantly lower than familiarity with centralized exchanges and software wallets.
Cold Wallet Users Demonstrate Active Asset Management Behaviors
The findings documented specific usage patterns among cold wallet users that extend beyond passive storage. According to the report, 77% of cold wallet users buy, sell or hold digital assets directly through their wallets, while 46% actively manage stablecoins. The research found that 43% of cold wallet users manage assets across multiple wallets and blockchain networks, 41% regularly use cryptocurrencies for payments, and 30% connect their wallets to Web3 applications.
The report concluded that hardware wallets are increasingly serving as operational tools for managing on-chain activity rather than functioning solely as secure storage devices. The study introduced the concept of Active Self-Custody to describe how users are utilizing self-custody products to store, transfer, spend and manage cryptocurrencies while maintaining control over their private keys.
Awareness and Perceived Complexity Limit Hardware Wallet Adoption
The research suggested that users with direct experience of self-custody generally hold more favorable views of the technology than those relying exclusively on centralized exchanges. Experienced users were more likely to consider self-custody secure, flexible and compatible with decentralized applications. They were also more likely to believe it could be adopted gradually without abandoning centralized platforms or exposing large amounts of capital to risk.
According to the report, these findings indicate that the primary challenge for wider self-custody adoption is no longer usability but user confidence and education. The study concluded that greater familiarity with self-custody tools could support broader adoption as digital asset management platforms continue to evolve. Jonathan Inglis, Founder & CEO of Protocol Theory, stated in a written statement that cold wallets are still widely associated with passive storage even as their role increasingly extends across storing, growing and spending, and that this gap in understanding is limiting perceived relevance and slowing broader adoption.
FAQ
What did the Tangem research report find about self-custody adoption on July 01, 2026?
The research report released on July 01, 2026 found that 66% of surveyed cryptocurrency users consider self-custody important, but only 15% currently use cold wallets. The study was based on responses from more than 3,100 cryptocurrency users in the United States and revealed a significant gap between perceived importance and actual adoption of self-custody technology.
How do cold wallet users manage their cryptocurrency assets according to the research?
According to the report, 77% of cold wallet users buy, sell or hold digital assets directly through their wallets, while 46% actively manage stablecoins. The research found that 43% manage assets across multiple wallets and blockchain networks, 41% regularly use cryptocurrencies for payments, and 30% connect their wallets to Web3 applications, demonstrating that hardware wallets serve as operational tools beyond passive storage.
Why do most cryptocurrency users not adopt cold wallets despite security concerns?
The research identified the most common obstacles as the belief that cold wallets are unnecessary or intended only for large portfolios and long-term investors, followed by concerns over complexity and cost. The study found that 88% of users continue storing assets on centralized exchanges despite 46% expressing concerns about major exchange security breaches, indicating that awareness and perceived complexity remain primary barriers to adoption.
