Andrey Lazutkin, CTO of Tangem AG, a Swiss hardware wallet maker, has highlighted true self custody as essential for crypto security. Drawing from Tangem’s experience building smartcard based wallets and wearable devices, he argues that users must manage private keys without intermediaries, ensuring that only they can authorize asset transfers.
Lazutkin explains that custodial solutions where exchanges or services hold keys create systemic risk, exposing users to hacks, freezes, and internal mismanagement. By contrast, self custody solutions from Tangem use secure chip technology to store keys offline, activated only through NFC or wearable verification.
He sees the future of crypto security in hybrid models where on chain protocols can interact with offline wallets through signed attestations. This enables DeFi integration without sacrificing custody independence.
Lazutkin is especially critical of recent high profile exchange failures. He encourages multi signature setups, recovery infrastructure, and hardware wallets with user only access. Tangem’s latest ring device and Stealth Card line reflect this emphasis on physical, non custodial control.
His message adds urgency to ongoing debates about crypto regulation, custody obligations, and user choice. In a world where blockchain enables finance outside of traditional structures, Lazutkin believes users must prioritize sovereignty over convenience and that security lies not in trust of institutions but in personal responsibility.
