Cryptocurrency is a digital investment that has risen in value, but many investors wonder whether it’s safe. The answer depends on how the cryptocurrency is invested and secured. While all investments carry some level of risk, some are more risky than others. This is particularly true of cryptocurrency because it is not backed by a government and can be subject to market fluctuations and scams.

While there are plenty of benefits to investing in crypto, it’s important to understand the risks before taking the plunge. The biggest risks include volatility, lack of regulation, and rampant scams. Despite these drawbacks, some experts believe that crypto can be an excellent long-term investment, as well as a reliable form of payment for goods and services.

As with any investment, you should never put your emergency savings or other money into cryptocurrency. Instead, it should be viewed as an opportunity to diversify your portfolio by adding alternative assets. If you’re committed to making crypto part of your investment strategy, consider focusing on established coins with strong track records that have survived market fluctuations and impactful events. This could make them a safer option than many other crypto options.

Another way to keep your cryptocurrency safe is to store it offline. While hot wallets are a convenient and easy way to buy and sell crypto, they’re also vulnerable to hacking. As a result, you should always use two-factor authentication on your crypto exchange accounts and secure your wallets with passwords and hardware wallets.

Finally, you should avoid conversations about crypto on online dating platforms. Scammers have been known to start digital relationships with their victims, then ask them for money or crypto in order to invest, often promising to return the funds. These are almost always scams, and if you send them your cryptocurrency, you’ll never see it again.

One of the most appealing aspects of cryptocurrency is its self-sovereignty. Unlike traditional government-issued currencies like the U.S. dollar, which are backed by the U.S. government, cryptocurrencies can’t be censored or stopped by a central authority. However, that also means that your cryptocurrency can’t be guaranteed by a bank or other financial institution, and you must shoulder the burden of protecting it yourself.

While most cryptocurrencies are safe to own, you should still take precautions when discussing them. Never click on a link or respond to a text or call from an unknown number. Scammers are known to impersonate Amazon, Microsoft, FedEx, and even your bank, sending texts, emails, or pop-up messages to get you to buy crypto or reveal your passwords. It’s also a good idea to keep your crypto stored in cold wallets, which are not as susceptible to hacking or theft as hot wallets. However, cold wallets can be damaged or lost in physical theft, so it’s essential to back up your private keys with a hardcopy or other secure storage solution. Ideally, you should keep backup keys/seeds in multiple locations and in different types of wallets, to prevent losing your investment.