Crypto Trust Force is a plain-language guide to keeping your holdings out of scammers' hands — practical security steps, a live market board, and what the current U.S. rules actually say.
See the protection checklist Read the rulesMost crypto losses aren't sophisticated hacks — they're phishing links, fake support agents, and seed phrases stored somewhere they shouldn't be. Start here, in order.
Keep only what you're actively trading on an exchange or software wallet. Long-term holdings belong in a hardware wallet that never exposes its private key to an internet-connected device.
No legitimate wallet, exchange, or support agent will ever ask for your 12- or 24-word recovery phrase. Anyone who asks for it — by chat, email, or phone — is attempting theft.
Fake sites that mimic exchanges and DeFi apps by a single character are the most common entry point for theft. Bookmark the real sites you use and avoid clicking search ads or DM links.
SIM-swap attacks defeat text-message codes. A hardware security key or authenticator app closes that gap on every exchange account you hold.
Every time you interact with a DeFi contract, you may grant it ongoing spending approval. Periodically check and revoke approvals you no longer use with a wallet's built-in permissions view.
Romance-investment scams, fake "recovery agents," and impersonated celebrities or influencers account for a large share of reported losses. If contact is unsolicited and money-related, assume it's a scam until proven otherwise.
A general overview, not legal advice. Federal crypto policy has moved quickly in 2026 — check primary sources before relying on any of this.
In March 2026 the SEC and CFTC signed a coordination agreement and jointly issued guidance clarifying when crypto assets and transactions fall under federal securities law, aiming to reduce the jurisdictional gray area that shaped prior years.
The House passed a digital-asset market-structure bill in 2025; the Senate has its own draft under negotiation, aiming to formally divide SEC/CFTC jurisdiction over crypto markets into law.
A federal law establishing licensing and reserve requirements for payment stablecoin issuers was enacted, with Treasury rulemaking ongoing to implement it.
U.S. exchanges generally must register with FinCEN, run KYC/AML programs, and report suspicious activity — the same obligations as other money transmitters.
Selling, trading, or spending crypto is a taxable event in the U.S., and exchanges increasingly issue tax forms directly to the IRS — the same as a brokerage would.
Many states require a money-transmitter license to operate a crypto exchange or custody service there, on top of any federal registration.
Bookmark this page and revisit the checklist whenever you set up a new wallet, exchange, or DeFi connection.