# Non-Custodial

> Controlling your assets should not require managing a seed phrase or navigating a complicated wallet.

Fiber is non-custodial by design. You remain in control of your assets, while
Fiber simplifies how your wallet is created, accessed, secured, and recovered.

## What Non-Custodial Means

Non-custodial means Fiber does not take custody of or control your assets.

Transactions require your authorization, and Fiber is not designed to
unilaterally move funds from your wallet.

In a custodial account, a company holds assets on your behalf. The company
controls the underlying wallet and authorizes withdrawals from it.

Fiber works differently. You retain the ownership benefits of an onchain wallet
through an experience designed to feel like a modern financial app.

## Fiber’s Account System

Traditional wallets often begin by giving users a seed phrase and making them
solely responsible for storing it safely.

Fiber replaces that initial experience with familiar account access:

- Create an account using your email address or phone number
- Secure access using your device and supported authentication methods
- Manage your assets directly through the Fiber app
- Review and authorize transactions before they are completed

You do not need to write down or manage a traditional seed phrase to begin using
Fiber.

Behind the scenes, Fiber uses enclave-based wallet infrastructure to protect
wallet access and transaction signing. More technical information about the
underlying key and signing architecture is available under [Security](/security)
and [Wallet Infrastructure](/wallet-infrastructure).

## Transaction Authorization

Fiber may prepare and coordinate the steps required to complete a deposit,
transfer, trade, or other supported action, but the transaction must still be
authorized through your account.

This separation allows Fiber to simplify the onchain process without taking
custody of the underlying assets.

Before authorizing a transaction, always review:

- The asset and amount
- The recipient address
- The selected network
- Any estimated costs or proceeds
- The action being requested

Onchain transactions may be irreversible once completed.

## Account Recovery

Fiber is designed to provide a simpler recovery experience than a traditional
seed-phrase wallet.

Access and recovery use the supported account and security methods associated
with your Fiber account, such as your verified email address, phone number,
device, and other configured protections.

You should keep these recovery methods secure and up to date. Losing access to
them may make account recovery more difficult or impossible.

Fiber will never ask you to share passwords, one-time verification codes, or
other sensitive account credentials.

## What Still Remains Your Responsibility

Non-custodial does not mean risk-free.

You remain responsible for:

- Protecting your device and login methods
- Securing your email address and phone number
- Reviewing transactions before approval
- Confirming wallet addresses and blockchain networks
- Avoiding scams, impersonation, and malicious links
- Maintaining access to your recovery methods

Sending an asset to the wrong address or through an unsupported network may
result in permanent loss.

Fiber is designed to make the safer path clearer and easier, but it cannot
reverse every onchain transaction or recover every incorrectly transferred
asset.

## Common Questions

### Is Fiber non-custodial?

Yes. Fiber does not hold your assets on your behalf. You retain control through
Fiber’s non-custodial wallet infrastructure.

### Do I need to manage a seed phrase?

You do not need to manage a traditional seed phrase when creating and using
your Fiber account. Access and recovery are designed around familiar methods
such as email, phone, device security, and other supported protections.

### Can Fiber move my assets without my authorization?

Fiber is designed so that transactions from your wallet require your
authorization. Fiber does not hold a conventional custodial key that allows it
to independently spend your assets.

### Is Fiber the same as a centralized exchange?

No. A centralized exchange holds assets on behalf of its users and maintains
internal account balances. Fiber provides access to assets through
non-custodial wallet infrastructure.

### Does non-custodial mean there are no risks?

No. Non-custodial infrastructure changes the nature of the risks rather than
removing them. Users remain responsible for account security and transaction
approval, while onchain, asset, protocol, and smart-contract risks may still
apply.

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Fiber is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by SSB, Member FDIC. Funds deposited at SSB are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, subject to applicable limitations and FDIC rules.