If you hold your own crypto, the seed phrase is not a password. It is the money. A May 2026 guide from a hardware wallet maker lists ten self-custody mistakes, and a few matter most for people who move countries often.
First, do not store the phrase digitally. No photo, no notes app, no cloud doc. Write it on paper, offline, and consider a metal backup if you want it to survive a flood or a fire.
Second, one copy in one place is a single point of failure. The guide suggests at least two copies in separate locations. For a nomad, that means not both in the same apartment you are about to leave.
Third, test your recovery. Restore the wallet on a separate device in the first week, then once a year. Many people discover their backup is wrong only when they need it.
Fourth, check the full destination address on your hardware wallet screen before sending, and confirm the network. Sending to the right address on the wrong chain is a classic way to lose funds.
Fifth, buy hardware wallets directly from the manufacturer, never a reseller, and check the packaging.
Finally, think about inheritance. Keep a plain-language note for family on where backups are, without writing the keys down in it.
The source sells hardware wallets and its headline loss statistics are not linked to primary sources, so treat the numbers as indicative.
This is information, not financial advice.