The case for self-custody grows stronger as traders demand proof of their belongings over crypto exchanges. Whereas some CEOs selected to double down on assuring the funds’ security on their platforms, Ray Youssef, the CEO of crypto change Paxful, sided with the concept of self-custody as he took duty for over 11 million customers.

The autumn of FTX was an eye-opener for traders who predominantly entrusted crypto exchanges with safeguarding their belongings. FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, nonetheless, broke this belief by misappropriating customers’ funds by way of Alameda Analysis. Ever since, quite a few exchanges needed to share pockets data as proof of reserves publicly.

In a tweet, Youssef distanced himself from “others within the trade,” reiterating that he by no means touched traders’ cash, including that:

“My sole duty is to assist and serve you. That’s why in the present day I’m messaging all of our [Paxful] customers to maneuver your Bitcoin to self-custody. You shouldn’t maintain your saving on Paxful, or any change, and solely maintain what you commerce right here.”

Youssef will ship weekly emails to customers strongly advising towards storing cryptocurrencies on all crypto exchanges, together with Paxful. The entrepreneur additional highlighted the issue with trusting custodians similar to SBF, stating that “you’re on the mercy of […] their morals.”

Because of Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin (BTC) — as an asset — is shielded from centralized management and manipulation. Youssef identified this distinctive alternative that Bitcoin brings to the desk — “the possibility to lastly be in management.”

Whereas he strongly suggested customers to take complete management over their belongings, Youssef assured their funds’ security for traders that select to retailer their Bitcoin on Paxful. Furthermore, the entrepreneur plans to take away Ether (ETH) from Paxful as a tradable asset citing the shortage of integrity in comparison with the Bitcoin ecosystem.

The plan to delist Ether from Paxful got here after Jeremy Garcia, the founder and CEO of Satoshi’s Journal, pointed out Ethereum’s poorly designed protocol.

Associated: Binance’s proof of reserves raises pink flags: Report

SBF made the headlines after revealing his plan to start out a brand new enterprise for repaying the FTX traders.

“I might give something to have the ability to do this. And I’m going to attempt if I can,” the notorious entrepreneur mentioned when not too long ago requested by BBC throughout an interview if he’d begin a brand new enterprise to repay FTX customers.