Celebrating Proof of Keys Day: Why Real Bitcoin and Crypto Matter

Happy Proof of Keys Day! 

Today marks the 10th anniversary, thanks to the initiative of Trace Mayer and the efforts of many others who champion the importance of self-custody. Started in 2015 on the birthday of bitcoin, Proof of Keys Day is about taking possession of the bitcoin and crypto you actually own. This day serves as a call to withdraw your coins from centralized exchanges, custodians, or any platform where you don’t have full, sovereign control over your keys. The day also calls us to check our self-custody solution to make sure we have access to the assets we think we do and that they are accessible and securely under our control.

Why go through the hassle of moving your coins that seem safely and conveniently held on a centralized exchange? Because when you hold your own keys, you’re the one in charge—no unexpected freezing of assets, no shutdowns, no middlemen, no “whoops, we got hacked and now your funds are gone” fiascos. You see your balance, you know it’s there, and you’re in the driver’s seat.

Bitcoin was designed to be a solution to the problems of third-party custody of assets. Without self-custody, we are simply holding an IOU, and we’re subject to all the pressures, mishaps, and fraud that can occur with a centralized third party. Without self-custody, we only have a claim on the price action of our assets but not its resistance to third-party vulnerabilities.

It’s also the perfect time to think about the difference between a Bitcoin ETF and actual BTC in your wallet. An ETF is designed to track the price, but that’s where the benefits end. You don’t get the same security, privacy, or censorship resistance that come from actually holding bitcoin yourself. Plus, if something goes wrong—frozen accounts, broker issues, government regulatory pressure, or plain old custodial mishaps—well, you might just be out of luck. That’s why you should consider swapping out your ETF positions for the real asset if you’re in a position to do so.

Proof of keys is also important for churches, non-profits, or any smaller organizations that hold bitcoin. Yes, managing your own keys is a bigger responsibility than simply outsourcing your coins to a third party. But if you understand that bitcoin can serve as a kind of “insurance”—the ability to remain yours without being controlled or devalued—then self-custody is the only way to truly tap into that potential. Custodial solutions might feel more convenient, but convenience is a small consolation if your funds end up locked or lost.

Sovryn is about enabling bitcoiners to remain sovereign. You can lend, borrow, and trade without entrusting your keys to a third party while maintaining full control of your assets. We believe bitcoin was designed to give individuals and communities the power to own their wealth outright, without third parties in the middle. 

Connect your wallet to the Sovryn dapp to lend, borrow, and trade.

So, celebrate #ProofOfKeys Day with us:

1. Withdraw your BTC and other crypto assets from centralized or custodial services.
2. Double-check your balances in your own personal wallet, and verify your security.
3. Swap out ETFs for actual bitcoin if possible.
4. Encourage organizations you care about—churches, non-profits, or local clubs—to hold their own keys.

If you need some help thinking through your custody scenario, I recommend you check out my article Bitcoin & Crypto Wallet Security Best Practices: Can Your Setup Withstand These Scenarios?

Remember: If you don’t hold your own keys, you’re losing out on a major value proposition of bitcoin. Let’s keep building a future that honors the original vision of bitcoin—one where you’re free, sovereign, and in charge of your financial destiny.

Stay Sovryn, and enjoy Proof of Keys Day.