Deciding how much crypto to leave on an exchange and how much to hold yourself in Kenya

There is a well-known saying in crypto that if you do not hold the keys, you do not truly hold the coins. It contains a real point, but it can also push beginners into moving everything to a wallet they do not yet know how to protect, which creates a different kind of risk. A more useful question is how much to keep where. Balances you trade actively are easier to manage on an exchange such as Binance, OKX, Bybit or Bitget. Savings you plan to leave untouched for months may be better in a wallet you control. This guide offers a practical framework for Kenyan users to decide on that split, protect each part properly and review the arrangement as their experience grows.

Sort your holdings by purpose

Begin by dividing your crypto into three rough groups: money you trade regularly, money you might need at short notice, and long-term savings you do not plan to touch. The first group belongs where you trade, since moving it back and forth costs fees and time. The second may stay on an exchange too, or in a wallet you are comfortable using quickly. The third is the main candidate for self-custody. Writing these groups down, with approximate proportions, turns a vague worry into a concrete plan.

Protect what stays on the exchange

For balances that stay on an exchange, the account itself is your security perimeter. Use a unique password, an authenticator app or passkey, an anti-phishing code and a withdrawal address allowlist where available. Protect the linked email with the same care. If you spread funds across several exchanges, apply the same settings on each and record them in a short checklist. Remember that exchange balances also depend on the platform's own operations, which is one reason not to keep long-term savings there by default.

Start self-custody small and slowly

Before moving savings into a personal wallet, practise with a small amount. Install a reputable wallet from the official store, write the recovery phrase on paper, and store it somewhere safe that only you can reach. Send a small sum from the exchange, then send part of it back, so you understand both directions. Only increase the amount once you are comfortable. Never type your recovery phrase into a website or share it with anyone, including people claiming to be wallet support staff.

Review the split every few months

Every quarter, write down how much sits on each exchange and in each wallet, and check that the protections on each are still in place. Your trading habits, needs and confidence will change, and the split should follow them. If an exchange account has gone unused for months but still holds a balance, decide whether to move it. Keep your list of accounts and wallets, without any secrets, alongside your other important documents so a trusted person could understand it if needed.

Risk boundary: Kenya Crypto Guide

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Scenario checkpoint

• Divide your holdings into trading money, short-notice money and long-term savings before deciding where each sits.
• Protect exchange balances with a unique password, authenticator, anti-phishing code and withdrawal allowlist.
• Practise self-custody with a small amount and send funds in both directions before moving savings.
• Review balances and protections across exchanges and wallets every quarter and adjust the split.