Part 15/17:
As the network expands to billions of users, trust frameworks become central. Whether through federated multi-institution custody solutions or reputable custodians, managing Bitcoin exposure becomes unavoidable for the masses. The debate continues: "Do individuals hold their keys, or do they trust custodians?"
Fundamentally, reputation acts as the key metric for trustworthiness—a custodian’s track record and operational transparency are crucial. Examples include mining pools, exchanges, and off-grid project operators relying heavily on reputation to attract and retain users.