Self-Custody Is the Signal

Why Owning Your Bitcoin Matters More Than Wall Street’s Exposure

There’s a lot of buzz in the air.

Bitcoin is back in the headlines. Again. Wall Street is buying. Publicly traded companies are adding BTC to their treasuries. Nation-states are stacking. ETFs are pumping. Everyone, it seems, wants “exposure” to Bitcoin.

But amid all the noise, it’s easy to miss the signal.

That signal is self-custody.

Let me be clear: if you don’t hold the keys, you don’t hold the Bitcoin.

Exposure ≠ Ownership

“Exposure” is the new buzzword that financial institutions and the media love to use. It sounds sophisticated, modern, and low risk — perfect for the average investor looking to dip a toe into the Bitcoin waters.

And yes, institutional involvement lends credibility. It brings liquidity. It signals that Bitcoin has matured from a fringe experiment into a legitimate financial asset.

But if you’re here because you’re curious about what makes Bitcoin different — or revolutionary — exposure isn’t enough.

Owning shares in a Bitcoin ETF, or gaining indirect exposure through a company’s stock, is not the same as owning Bitcoin. Not…