> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.primevault.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Self-custody accounts

> Hold crypto in blockchain wallets you control, with one vault covering several chains.

A self-custody account is a [vault](/accounts-and-wallets/vault) that holds crypto in blockchain wallets you control. The vault has a wallet for each chain you request, listed in `wallets`. Its `asset` is `null` because it can hold any supported asset on those chains.

## How it works

| Step | What happens | API |
| - | - | - |
| Create | Create a vault with the chains you need. Wallet addresses can arrive after the response, so wait until `walletsGenerated` is `true`. | [Create a Vault](/accounts-and-wallets/create-vault) |
| Receive | Share the wallet address for the asset's chain. | [Deposit crypto](/use-cases/deposit-crypto) |
| Hold | The vault keeps a balance per asset and chain. | [Balances](/accounts-and-wallets/vault-balances) |
| Send | Transfer to a contact or another vault, or convert on the way out. Every outgoing transaction waits for your [approval](/approvals/overview). | [Pay out to a wallet](/use-cases/payout-wallet) |

## Example

A treasury team keeps USDC on Ethereum and Polygon in one vault. Customers deposit to the vault's address on either chain. The team sends USDC to a saved contact with a transfer, or converts it to USD and pays out to a bank account.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Deposit crypto" icon="coins" href="/use-cases/deposit-crypto">
    Receive crypto from an external wallet.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Multi-currency accounts" icon="building-columns" href="/use-cases/multi-currency-accounts">
    Receive, hold, and send fiat per currency.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>


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