The whole class in one line
Custody is who can move your coins
The chain does not care what the app says you own. It cares who can sign a send.
If someone else can move the coins without you, they have custody. Your password is access to their books. It is not the key on the network.
Write this down: custody is control of the keys, not the logo on the screen.
TakeawayAsk one question of every setup: who can move this?
- Keys
- The secret that signs a send. Whoever has them can move the coins.
- Custody
- Who is allowed to create a valid send.