Like any valuable asset, your crypto is at greater risk when you’re traveling—especially if you’re using public WiFi or heading overseas. That’s only one of the many reasons why it’s essential to take extra steps to keep it secure.
Equally important is choosing reliable wallets, exchanges, and tools that can help minimize potential threats and safeguard your assets.
The rise of crypto has made trading pairs like ETH/USDT attractive to both ambitious newcomers and seasoned investors alike. Whether you’re using crypto for seamless travel payments, speculative gains, or as a hedge against inflation, protecting your assets while on the move is just as critical. Notably, this undertaking goes hand in hand with personal data and password safeguarding.
In this article, you’ll find practical tips to help you protect your crypto and stay safe while traveling.
The Seed Phrase Is The Crux
In crypto, a seed—also known as a recovery phrase or seed phrase—is a sequence of uniquely ordered words that provides access to your wallet. Anyone who gets hold of your seed phrase can gain access to your crypto wallet, your funds, and your private and public keys, acting much like a master password.
If you lose access to your device or encounter issues with your computer, this phrase allows you to recover your wallet on another device. Here’s a completely random example of a seed phrase: “yellow lake pumpkin rollercoaster cat ice cream household Maldive milkshake.”
The Seed Phrase Backup
Most wallets today share a critical point of failure: the seed phrase backup. Carrying your seed phrase while traveling can be risky, as it could be exposed to curious eyes or even stolen. Always make sure your seed phrase is stored securely. And remember that because seed phrases are unencrypted secrets, they’re far easier to compromise than cold wallets (aka hardware wallets).
Cold wallets store your private key data in a secure element, protected by a PIN, and usually require a computer to access it. In contrast, a written or printed seed phrase can be easily copied, stolen, or photographed, making it a much more vulnerable backup method.
Leave your recovery phrase backups in safe storage locations like a trusted family member, and go sightseeing stress-free with one or multiple hardware wallets.
Consider VPNs for Proactive Protection
Depending on your travel destination, it may also be wise to install and use a reputable VPN (Virtual Private Network)—as long as you understand the potential vulnerabilities that may exist. Sometimes referred to as blockchain or crypto VPNs, these tools are popular among users seeking an extra layer of security. They encrypt traffic across networks, making it significantly harder for ill-intended individuals to intercept data or hack into crypto wallets.
By rerouting all your internet activity through anonymous servers, VPNs help keep your personal information private and your transactions secure—shielding identifiable details from unwanted surveillance or cyber threats.
Beef Up your Wallet’s Security
Just like visiting the dentist, setting up 2FA (two-factor authentication) can be unpleasant but necessary. Before traveling internationally, remember to prioritize your crypto security by enabling 2FA and registering hardware security keys on all of your critical accounts. Securely back up your wallet’s recovery phrase and store it offline, setting up biometric authentication whenever possible.
Moreover, you should rely on a hardware wallet for everyday transactions and keep your digital wallet reserved for long-term holdings. Important note: always disable auto-connect to WiFi and avoid accessing sensitive data on public networks.
The better you protect your crypto-storing mobile device, the easier it will be to monitor and use digital currency and other digital assets while on the go.
Check Your Destination’s Crypto Stance
Crypto transactions are logged on a decentralized, public, and digitally distributed ledger, namely the blockchain. But this accessibility doesn’t mean that you can use yours everywhere you go. A number of states have greenlighted crypto use, including Singapore, Canada, the UAE, Switzerland, Vanuatu, and El Salvador. The number of trusted nations for cryptocurrency holders is rising; for instance, South America’s crypto ownership gained 116.5% over the past two years. But there are also countries where crypto is in a grey area or illegal, which is why you should verify where crypto stands in your targeted vacation country and abide by the rules.
Exercise caution and remain vigilant in countries that have banned or strictly regulated cryptocurrency. In regions that are less welcoming to crypto, using a VPN can provide an added layer of security.
Keep your passwords and sensitive data off your devices and avoid using public WiFi networks. It’s also wise to avoid using exchanges—even reputable ones—in countries that ban crypto activities.
Only Use Reputable Exchanges
There’s a sea of online crypto exchanges out there, each promising all sorts of advantages. While those offering low fees, user-friendly interfaces, speedy trade execution, and so on may catch the attention first, it’s essential to slow down and remember that these tend to sway users easily. You don’t want to compromise your security, which is why it’s essential to look beyond the surface and consider the security features of the platform.
Be sure to examine how the company upholds user and fund protection, ensuring your assets remain safe. The safety methods used differ greatly among exchanges.
Constantly Update Software
Most software updates regularly and automatically. But if this isn’t your software’s case, you should update it anytime a new version is out.
This will protect you against cyber threats and security vulnerabilities through big fixes that tackle code and address weak points. This eventually makes it more difficult for hackers to access your data and funds. Malicious actors often leverage outdated software models because they know what weaknesses to exploit. Next time a software upgrade notification pops up, make sure to accept it.
Bottom line
Staying protected starts with preparation—which is why using a trusted exchange, being cautious around BTMs (Bitcoin ATMs), securing your crypto with a trustworthy hardware wallet, and using VPNs should never be overlooked.