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Self-custody vs custodial accounts
Understand who controls your crypto, how recovery works, and why fiat held at regulated partners follows a different model.
Where Glide wins
- ✓Most accounts open in about ten minutes.
- ✓Send USD or EUR with the rate and the fee shown before you confirm.
- ✓Wallets and vaults you control; fiat held at regulated partners
Where Self-custody vs custodial still wins
- ·Pure custodial apps recover accounts with email OTP only
- ·No user responsibility for key hygiene
- ·Account statements managed by the provider
| Dimension | Glide | Self-custody vs custodial |
|---|---|---|
| Who can freeze crypto | Chain + issuer + policy; not a hidden omnibus alone | Platform can freeze ledger balance |
| Recovery if app dies | Wallet export and recovery depend on the wallet setup | Depends on bankruptcy process |
| Payment authorization | Wallet signatures for crypto transfers | Provider authorizes transfers from its ledger |
| Fiat rails | Partner EMI/bank | Platform ledger |
| User burden | Keep recovery access and wallet credentials safe | Password / KYC only |
Hold USD, receive and send Euros, pay like a local in 100+ countries. Most accounts open in about ten minutes. Send USD or EUR with the rate and the fee shown before you confirm.