Crypto Wallet · Founder Guide
Is My Crypto Wallet Startup Ready to Raise?
The first question a reviewer asks a wallet team is custodial or non-custodial, and the honest answer changes everything else that gets checked, especially the audit bar.
Free, rule-based, takes under a minute. Opens with Crypto Wallet already selected.
What Gets Checked
What Investors and Accelerators Check for Crypto Wallet Projects
- A clear, upfront statement of custodial vs. non-custodial architecture
- A security audit: for a custodial wallet this is close to non-negotiable, for non-custodial it's still expected before scale
- A specific security model (hardware secure element, MPC, seed-phrase recovery, social recovery), not just "secure by design"
- A named team with prior security, cryptography, or wallet infrastructure experience
- Real install/active-user numbers, not just a waitlist
Red Flags
Crypto Wallet-Specific Red Flags This Tool Catches
- Custodial wallet holding user funds described as a "consumer app" with no audit mentioned
- No named team behind software people are asked to trust with private keys or funds
- Vague security language with no actual mechanism named
- No distribution or GTM plan for how a wallet actually acquires users in a crowded category
Crypto Wallet Questions
Does a non-custodial wallet still need an audit?
It's less of a hard blocker than for a custodial wallet, but any team asking people to trust software with their keys should expect it to come up in diligence.
What's the fastest way for a wallet pitch to lose credibility?
Being vague about custodial vs. non-custodial, or describing custody of user funds as if it were a normal consumer app with no security discussion.
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