If a gangster wanted to steal your crypto, how would they do it? Spoiler alert: they won't hack you. They'd instead hit you on the head with a $5 wrench.

Violence isn't a new idea.

It's the reason why it sucks to be unbanked. It's much safer to keep your money in the bank than under your mattress. Yet crypto wallets act like cash.

You own your crypto and transactions are irreversible.

Privacy is key. Separate your identity from your funds.

Do you like to talk about your crypto with friends? Hodl all your assets in one wallet? Have a ".eth" Twitter name to show you're a true believer? Bad idea.

Researchers often use Linkedin, Twitter, and ENS domains to link millions of crypto holdings to individual users. It's all public, and criminals know these tricks, too. Instead, follow these rules to stay safe:

• Privacy: It's okay to talk about crypto. Not your crypto, though. There's a reason so many people in this space stay anonymous.

• Security: Install physical and digital safety measures. What this means depends on where you live and your individual risks. A cold wallet or separation of your assets goes a long way.

• Limit access: Make it difficult to execute an attack. If you can't get to your funds yourself at will, neither can any criminal.

• Decoy: One often recommended tip is to have a dummy wallet. This could work, but it's a gamble. When $%#£ hits the fan, you don't want to risk confusion.

For perspective, it's far more likely to be the victim of a hack than a physical attack. Yet it's still important to stay vigilant.

Crypto gives people ownership. And all the risks that come with it.