5 main threats to your seed phrase: theft, loss, media damage, inheritance failure, and digital attacks. Each requires its own protection method.
Physical Theft
Someone finds or steals the paper/metal with your seed phrase and gains full access to the wallet.
Protection: Passphrase (25th word), SeedShift, XOR encryption. A seed without the secret component is useless to a thief.
Loss of Storage Medium
Paper got lost, you moved and forgot, destroyed during cleaning. A single copy — and access is lost forever.
Protection: Multiple copies in different locations. Shamir SSS (2-of-3): loss of one part is not critical.
Storage Medium Damage
Fire, flood, corrosion. Paper burns at 230°C, standard steel deforms at 500°C.
Protection: Metal storage (titanium withstands 1,668°C). Distributed storage of copies.
Inheritance Problem
You are the only one who knows the seed phrase. If something happens to you — assets are lost forever for heirs.
Protection: Shamir SSS 2-of-3 (notary + heir + bank). Documented recovery procedure.
Digital Attacks
Malware, phishing, compromised random number generator, supply chain attacks.
Protection: Generate seed only on a verified offline device. Never enter your seed into a computer or phone.