Bitcoin's "not your keys, not your coins" mantra just got a reality check from one of the industry's biggest Bitcoin maxis.

JAN3 CEO Samson Mow finally admitted what many have been thinking – self-custody isn't necessarily for everyone.

But before the custodians pop the champagne, Mow made it clear that in certain parts of the world, holding your own keys isn't just nice-to-have, it's survival.

The Custody Spectrum

The big takeaway is that most normal people would rather delegate security to someone else than mess with seed phrases and hardware wallets.

People naturally gravitate toward convenience, which is why traditional banks still exist despite their obvious shortcomings.

Mow acknowledges this human tendency, basically saying, "Yeah, most people are lazy with their money, and that's not changing anytime soon."

But in places where governments have sticky fingers and shaky legal systems, self-custody becomes less about philosophy and more about keeping what's yours.

The orange-pilled crowd might rage at the idea of custodial solutions, but Mow's taking a more nuanced approach than the typical "Bitcoin or die" narrative.

He's essentially saying the self-custody battle has different front lines depending on where you live.

History Doesn't Repeat, But It Rhymes 

Mow pulled the classic Executive Order 6102 reference—when the U.S. government confiscated everyone's gold in 1933.

If you're wondering why Bitcoiners seem paranoid, it's because history has this nasty habit of showing that governments will absolutely take your stuff when it suits them.

This isn't tinfoil hat territory when you look at countries with actual currency collapses and asset freezes happening right now.

The risk calculation changes dramatically when you're living through hyperinflation or under a regime that changes financial rules overnight.

Self-custody isn't just a flex – it's financial self-defense for millions of people globally.

Layer 2: Where Speed Meets Security 

Nobody wants to wait an hour for their coffee transaction to confirm, so Mow's pushing Layer 2 solutions like Liquid and Lightning.

These allow for "fast, high-velocity spending" without sacrificing the security that makes Bitcoin worthwhile.

But Mow also discussed Lightning's pain points—when the main chain fees moon, opening those channels gets expensive as hell.

That's where Liquid comes in, providing some breathing room from Bitcoin's sometimes ridiculous fee market.

The big brain move is using different solutions for different needs rather than forcing everything through one channel.

Tech That Gets Out Of The Way 

Mow believes most users shouldn't need a computer science degree to use Bitcoin effectively.

The end goal is infrastructure that works in the background—like how you don't need to understand TCP/IP to send an email.

This is where the rubber meets the road for mass adoption – when the average person can use self-custody without even realizing they're doing it.

The best security is the kind you don't have to think about, so the future probably involves smart wallets rather than memorized private keys.

The Right Custody For You

Self-custody isn't a one-size-fits-all solution – it's a spectrum that depends on your situation, threat model, and technical comfort.

Keeping some Bitcoin with a reputable custodian isn't the end of the world if you live in a stable country with reliable institutions – but for those in places where banks fail and currencies collapse, having direct control over your Bitcoin is as practical as it is ideological.

The beauty of Bitcoin is that it gives you options – custodial for convenience, self-custody for sovereignty, and everything in between.