How to Secure Your Crypto in 2025 with Black Seed Ink 

As crypto becomes more and more popular there are a lot of new investors who need guidance. Black Seed Ink's Research Lab is here for you.

1. Why Steel + Cold Storage Beat Paper Backup  

Paper burns. Paper tears. Paper can be eaten by 2 year olds and dogs. Paper can be mistaken as trash and tossed in the round file.  Stainless 316L plates survive fire, flood, and decades of HODLing, a point echoed in Bankless DAO’s seed-protection write-up.

Def: HODL = Hold On for Dear Life

2. Gear Checklist

Gather Black Seed Ink plates, engraving tool, secure cold hardware wallet, and documentation aids to build a complete, multi-layer crypto-security kit. 

3. Engrave Your Seed Phrase 

Draft in pencil, engrave deeply with a carbide scribe, clean the plate, then hide it in a secure location for tamper-proof storage.

1. Draft — Write the 12/24 words in pencil on the steel plate.

2. Engrave — Trace over the words firmly with the scribe; make several passes.

3. Clean — Wipe away graphite and oils.

4. Optional PIN — Scribe it only if you have robust in-house security; otherwise memorize or scribe on another plate and store separate.

5. Stack & Seal — For multi-plate orders, face data inward, logos outward, and tighten screws.

6. Hide — Place plates in a fire-safe or off-site secure vault or storage.

4. Passphrases & “25th Words” 

Add an extra secret word to the seed phrase or a passphrase and store it separately from the main seed phrase to create hidden wallets and block thieves even if they steal the primary backup. Which one depends on the cold hardware wallet you choose.

• Trezor lets you create unlimited hidden wallets via passphrase.

• D’Cent offers a 25th word to be added to a 24-word seed phrase.

• Rule: Backup the passphrase/25th word onto steel just like the seed phrase. Black Seed Ink provides a steel backup solution. Store passphrase/25th-word plates in a different location from the main seed phrase - never together.

5. How Many Cold Wallets Do You Need? 

Research Lab uses the following method to factor in risk when considering how many cold wallets to own. If you have $1 M in XRP and can tolerate a $100 K loss, divide $1 M / $100 K = 10 wallets. Buy (and back up) that many cold wallets. As value grows, add more. Remember: for now, you are the ONLY gatekeeper to your fortune. Also keep a BIP39 cold wallet (unused) backup for immediate access to move your funds in case your seed phrase is exploited. You won't have time to wait for a new cold wallet to arrive in the mail.

Five Golden Rules of Crypto Cold Storage

1. Split funds across multiple seed phrases.

2. Mix wallet brands to avoid single-vendor exploits.

3. Require physical confirmation for every send.

4. Follow the risk formula above.

5. Use ≥ 8-digit PINs plus a passphrase or 25th word.

6. Wallet Quick Picks 

• D’Cent Biometric — Fingerprint approvals, 25th word, medium difficulty setup; log every account in The IndeX for full recovery.

• Trezor Model T — Open-source, EAL-6 secure element, unlimited hidden wallets via passphrase—security-maximalist’s favorite. 

• Tangem  — EAL-6 NFC cards, broad chain support, no native passphrase (rely on strong PIN + seed backup); firmware auto-updates through the app.

7. Quarterly Maintenance Checklist 

Security is a practice, not a one-time task. Engrave carefully, store wisely, diversify devices, and review your setup quarterly. Follow these steps and your crypto should remain secure through bull runs, bear markets, and the decades beyond.

Not financial advice. Always do your own research.