COMPASSDigital literacy & security education
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Free 15-min Consultation

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Private lessons. Japanese or English.

Understand how money is changing.
Learn to take control and stay secure.

Learn how banks, cryptocurrency, and digital wallets work — and develop practical skills to manage and protect your digital assets with confidence.

Free 15-minute consultationLINEView services

Start with 15 minutes to work out what you need to learn.

Via LINEPrefer Telegram or email?

NESW
  • One-to-one learning
  • Japanese & English
  • Japan-based · Online available

A CLEARER DIRECTION

Learn today. Prepare for tomorrow.

  1. Understand
  2. Check the steps
  3. Try it yourself

IFINANCIAL REALITY

In some countries, deposit withdrawals and transfers have been restricted.

Having a balance in your bank account does not always mean you can withdraw it freely, whenever you choose.

The circumstances and causes differed in each country. Here are two cases documented in published sources.

2019Lebanon

As the financial crisis deepened, severe restrictions were placed on bank withdrawals and transfers abroad. Many people with money in their accounts could no longer use it freely.

Verified facts and sources
  • From around November 2019, with no formal capital-control law in place, the financial sector imposed its own informal limits on withdrawals and transfers (World Bank, 2024).
  • In its 2023 staff report, the IMF noted that informal restrictions on deposit withdrawals were still in place.
  • Separately from access, the local currency lost about 98% of its value from 2019 onward, sharply reducing the value of deposits (World Bank, 2024).

Checked November 8, 2026.

2013Cyprus

In response to a banking crisis, temporary restrictions on moving money were introduced. As the banks were restructured, some depositors also bore losses.

Verified facts and sources
  • After the bank restructuring was announced on March 16, 2013, banks closed and reopened on March 28. Capital controls, including limits on transfers abroad, were introduced when they reopened (European Commission, May 2013).
  • The controls were eased in stages and fully lifted in April 2015 (European Stability Mechanism).
  • Restructuring the two largest banks required contributions from uninsured deposits. At Cyprus Popular Bank, uninsured deposits stayed with the legacy entity being wound down; at Bank of Cyprus, 37.5% of uninsured deposits were converted into shares. Insured deposits were protected (European Commission, May 2013).

Checked November 8, 2026.

These are past events in other countries. They do not predict that something similar will happen in Japan, and they do not suggest that cryptocurrency is safer than bank deposits or that anyone should move their savings into cryptocurrency.

IIUNDERSTANDING

01The question

It’s your money.
What if you suddenly couldn’t use it?

  • You keep money in the bank.
  • You check your balance in an app.
  • You send money when you need to.

For most of us, this is completely ordinary.

But what if, one day, you could still log in—yet couldn’t send anything?

It’s your money, but moving it isn’t your decision alone.

Situations like this have really happened around the world.

Cases: Lebanon (2019) and Cyprus (2013)Each had its own background and causes.

02Why

Why does this happen?

Assets held at a bank or exchange are managed within that institution’s own systems and rules.

Knowing your password does not mean you can operate those systems yourself.

Being able to log in is not the same as directly controlling your assets.

Who decides that a transfer happens?

Approving in your own wallet

  1. You
  2. Sign with your private key
  3. The blockchain

The transaction is approved by you

Learn more: how bank deposits work
  • Legally, a bank deposit is a claim against the bank for repayment. You are the creditor and the bank is the debtor, and the bank is obliged to repay you.
  • A deposit is generally a contract under which the bank may use the money—for lending, for example—and must repay the same amount. The bank is not storing specific banknotes for you.
  • Under Japan’s deposit insurance system, eligible ordinary deposits are protected up to ¥10 million in principal plus interest per depositor per institution, and payment deposits are protected in full.
  • Withdrawals and transfers take place under conditions set by the bank’s procedures and operating status, and by laws or measures taken by the authorities.
Deposit insurance scope and sources: Learning resources
Learn more: exchange custody and customer protection
  • Logging in to an exchange app confirms your identity so you can use the service. The private keys that approve transfers on the blockchain are usually managed by the exchange.
  • The balance in your app shows your entitlement to assets held in wallets the exchange controls. What that entitlement covers is set by the terms of service and the law.
  • Registered crypto exchanges in Japan are legally required, among other things, to keep customers’ assets separate from their own and, in principle, to hold them offline.
  • Bank deposit insurance does not apply. Whether, and on what terms, you can withdraw depends on the terms of service, the operator’s situation and applicable law.

03Another way

The option to manage it yourself.

With cryptoassets, you don’t have to leave everything on an exchange. You can also hold them in your own wallet.

If you manage your own private keys, you approve transactions yourself, without asking an exchange to send for you.

Of course, you also take on more responsibility—for lost keys, mistaken transfers and more.

What you can do

  • Approve transfers yourself, without going through an exchange
  • Hold supported cryptoassets in your own wallet

What you take on

  • Keeping your keys and recovery information safe
  • Checking addresses and networks before sending
  • Watching out for scams and phishing

Each of these can be learned—by understanding how it works and practising.

Self-custody applies to supported cryptoassets. It does not replace a bank account, avoid every restriction, or make your assets automatically safer.

Learn more: what self-custody covers, and your responsibilities
  • A private key is the information used to sign (approve) transactions on a blockchain. A recovery phrase restores that key, and anyone who learns it may be able to move your assets.
  • What you control is whether a transaction is signed. Some things keys cannot decide: network rules, fees and congestion, and—for some tokens—features such as freezing set by the issuer.
  • No public scheme reverses or compensates losses from lost keys or recovery phrases, mistaken transfers or scams. Assets sent over an unsupported network may not be recoverable.
  • COMPASS never asks for, or holds, your private keys or recovery phrase.

04Your choice

Leave it to others without knowing,
or understand and choose?

The answer is not to stop using banks or exchanges.

What matters is understanding how they work—and knowing how to manage assets yourself, too.

From having to delegate, to being able to choose.

COMPASS is where you learn the knowledge and practical skills to get there.

Don’t leave your assets entirely in someone else’s hands.

WALLET SKILLS

One-to-one lessons in wallet setup, sending, receiving, and the principles of backup and recovery—hands-on, on your own device. It is an educational service, not an investment product or asset-management service.

View Wallet SkillsFree 15-minute consultation (LINE)

This is a general explanation of how these options work. It does not suggest that problems at banks or exchanges are inevitable or that any one option is safer than another, and it is not legal or investment advice for your individual situation.

IIIYOUR STARTING POINT

Where would you like to begin?

  1. If you are just starting to learn

    You want to understand how cryptocurrency and wallets work, from the basics.

    Start with how custody options differ and how to prepare to learn safely.

    Related serviceWallet Skills

  2. If you already hold crypto

    You hold crypto on an exchange, but feel unsure about sending it yourself or using a wallet.

    Learn what to check through hands-on practice.

    Related serviceWallet Skills

  3. If you want guidance through setup

    You want to work through wallet preparation, basic operations and backups, checking each step with individual guidance.

    You learn in stages, on your own device and under your own control.

    Related serviceCOMPASS Full Setup

We confirm which option fits in a free 15-minute consultation. We do not guarantee particular learning outcomes or skill levels.

IVPRACTICAL PREPARATION

From understanding to doing it yourself.

Understanding how things work is the first step.

With COMPASS, you learn wallet basics, what to check when sending and receiving, and how to approach backup and recovery—one to one.

Your assets and recovery information always remain under your control.

Start with a free 15-minute consultation.

We’ll look at what you already know and what you want to achieve, then map out the learning you need together.

Free 15-minute consultationLINEView services and pricing

COMPASS is an educational service for learning how to manage digital assets. We do not provide investment advice, recommend specific cryptoassets or providers, or guarantee profits or security.

01 / TWO WAYS TO LEARN

The learning you need.
The support that fits.

Choose Wallet Skills for foundations and practical steps, or Full Setup for education that starts with hardware selection and sourcing assistance. We clarify the fit in a free consultation.

Starting option

SERVICE 01

Wallet Skills

For those who want to manage their own wallet

For anyone who wants to learn about crypto wallets from the basics and be able to set up, send and receive on their own.

Online
¥55,000
In person in Fukuoka
¥60,000

The Fukuoka price includes a ¥5,000 visit fee (within the agreed service area).

  • One private lesson
  • Up to 6 hours, including breaks
  • Typically 3–5 hours
  • Japanese or English

What’s included

  • One-day, one-on-one private lesson
  • Wallet fundamentals and security education
  • Wallet setup that you carry out yourself
  • Optional small test transactions

Includes 30 days of after-supportAsk questions about what you learned, by phone or message, after your lesson.

The aim: understand why each check matters, as well as how to perform it.

The six-stage curriculum
  1. Understand the foundations

    Explore digital assets and how wallets work.

  2. Compare custody

    Understand banks, exchanges, self-custody and the responsibilities of each.

  3. Prepare and set up

    Check the preparation needed and operate your own device with guidance.

  4. Practise receiving and sending

    Check addresses, networks, amounts, fees and transaction status.

  5. Understand backup and recovery

    Learn secret-information management and recovery principles.

  6. Check and take it with you

    Complete practical checks and take home guidance for review.

Delivery options & location conditions
In person in Fukuoka
¥60,000 total, including a ¥5,000 visit surcharge within the agreed Fukuoka service area. The core lesson is the same.
Other Japanese prefectures
Individual quotation. Availability and travel/accommodation expenses are confirmed before booking. Nationwide service is not promised.
International online
¥55,000 base lesson fee, subject to eligibility, payment arrangements, scheduling and applicable requirements. There is no nationality-based surcharge.

You provide the necessary devices, equipment and practice funds. We confirm supported equipment and services in advance. The session may finish earlier if the learning objectives are completed.

Free 15‑minute consultationLINE

Most complete support

SERVICE 02

COMPASS
Full Setup

For those who want a setup that truly fits them

Whether you are new to crypto or already hold some, we support you in building a management setup that suits you, from the basics to hands-on practice.

Online
¥120,000
In person in Fukuoka
¥125,000

The Fukuoka price includes a ¥5,000 visit fee (within the agreed service area).

Hardware and shipping are charged separately.

  • Two private sessions
  • Up to 6 hours in total
  • Online or in person

What’s included

  • Two private sessions, online or in person
  • Hardware selection and purchase guidance
  • Ledger Nano X and Ledger Live setup guidance
  • PIN, recovery and security education
  • Guided transaction practice, when appropriate
  • A personalized security and recovery checklist

Includes 90 days of after-supportAsk questions about your setup, by phone or message, after setup.

Full Setup is education and sourcing assistance so you can operate the wallet yourself. It is not setup or asset management performed on your behalf.

The 10 included elements
  1. Initial private consultation and learning-needs assessment
  2. Hardware selection and purchase guidance
  3. Authorized-source purchasing and sourcing assistance
  4. Delivery coordination, where available
  5. Two private sessions, online or in person, totaling up to six hours
  6. Ledger Nano X and Ledger Live setup guidance (you operate the device)
  7. PIN, recovery and security education
  8. Guided transaction practice, when appropriate
  9. A personalized security and recovery checklist
  10. 90 days of after-support by phone and message after setup
Costs quoted separately where applicable
  • Hardware wallet
  • Shipping and insurance
  • Customs duties and import taxes
  • Travel expenses
  • Additional sessions or support
  • Other specifically agreed services

For international customers

The base service fee is ¥120,000, plus applicable additional costs subject to individual quotation and availability. Before confirming a booking, we check eligibility, hardware availability, authorized sourcing, shipping eligibility, customs/import duties, destination-country requirements, payment arrangements and scheduling.

Worldwide delivery is not promised. If hardware delivery is unavailable for your destination, we may offer the standard online educational lesson where appropriate.

Devices are sourced through trustworthy authorized channels without tampering or wallet preconfiguration. Only you initialize the device and generate and manage your secret information.

Free 15‑minute consultationLINE

These are the approved base fees. Before a paid contract, we confirm your total quotation, including applicable expenses, additional services and conditions.

AFTER-SUPPORT

About after-support

  • The support period is 30 days after your Wallet Skills lesson, or 90 days after your Full Setup.
  • During that period, you can call without an appointment and send messages at any time.
  • We cannot promise immediate replies or 24/7 availability. If we miss your call, we will call you back when we are available.
  • Support covers questions within the scope of the service you purchased. New setups, additional sessions, transactions on your behalf, investment advice and emergency response are not included.

YOUR DEVICE. YOUR DECISIONS.

Your actions. Your secrets. Your control.

You operate your own devices for every setup and transaction step, and you alone control your funds, private keys and recovery phrase. COMPASS does not hold your assets or recovery information, never requests, generates, photographs, receives or stores recovery phrases, and does not execute transactions on your behalf.

Stop screen sharing whenever secret information is displayed and complete those steps yourself. We provide no investment advice or recommendations, and no guarantees of profit, security or learning outcomes.

02 / HOW IT WORKS

Know the scope and total.
Then decide whether to proceed.

There is no need to rush into a booking. The free consultation clarifies your learning needs, what we can cover and the applicable conditions.

  1. Free 15-minute suitability call

    Request a consultation on LINE, by email or on Telegram (@compassryu). We agree the time and call method by reply. You can finish after the free consultation without booking.

  2. Confirm the scope and quotation

    Review the service, eligibility, location, total costs including expenses, payment arrangements and cancellation conditions before a paid contract.

  3. Prepare your devices and materials

    Confirm equipment, learning materials and practice funds. Full Setup also covers purchasing channels and any necessary delivery arrangements.

  4. Learn by operating things yourself

    One private lesson for Wallet Skills; two guided sessions for Full Setup. The instructor explains and helps you check; you perform the actual steps.

  5. Review with the agreed guidance

    Use your checklist and take-home guidance. During the after-support period (30 days for Wallet Skills, 90 days for Full Setup), you can ask questions about the covered material.

YOUR GUIDE

Hano Ryu杷野 りゅう

PROJECT COMPASS instructor

Based in
Fukuoka, Japan (online available)
Lessons in
Japanese and English

Your questions deserve clear answers.

03 / YOUR GUIDE

Who teaches you,
and how.

Your instructor, Hano Ryu, has teaching experience in the Philippines and has also provided paid, one-to-one crypto wallet lessons in Japan.

You do not have to understand everything the first time. We explain the systems, work through the steps and make room for repeated questions, so you can operate your own device with a clearer understanding.

An explanation. A demonstration. Your turn.

  1. Get an explanation
  2. Watch a demonstration
  3. Check together
  4. Try it yourself

A SMALL TEACHING SAMPLE

A teaching example: check before you send.

The same asset can exist on different networks. Before pressing Send, work through the checks in order.

Your wallet

The same network, supported by both sides

Recipient wallet or service
Learning diagram only. This is not a real transaction.

  1. Recipient

    Check the complete recipient address.

  2. Asset & network

    Confirm support on both sides.

  3. Amount & fees

    Check the fees and available balance too.

  4. Transaction status

    Check the pending or confirmed state after sending.

These are selected basic checks using Ethereum as an example, not a complete safety checklist. Steps and conditions vary by asset, device and service. ethereum.org: How to use a wallet

OUR BOUNDARIES

From start to finish, you stay in control of your assets.

COMPASS provides education. In lessons and consultations alike, we keep to these boundaries.

  • You operate your own device

    You carry out every step yourself. The instructor explains and helps you check, and never operates your device for you.

  • We never hold your assets

    COMPASS never takes custody of, or manages, your assets.

  • We never ask for private keys or recovery phrases

    We never ask for them or store them. Do not send or show them to anyone, including someone claiming to be an instructor.

  • No investment advice

    We do not recommend specific cryptoassets or providers, and we do not guarantee profits or security.

Start with a simple conversation.

In the free 15-minute consultation, we ask about your experience and what you want to learn, then suggest a suitable way to learn. No purchase is required.

Free 15-minute consultationLINE

04 / BUILD YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Understand the differences
before choosing.

Bank deposits, exchanges and self-custody involve different protections and responsibilities. The aim is not to declare one option “completely safe,” but to give you a sound basis for your own decisions.

Bank deposits and digital assetsThey do not have the same protections.

In Japan, eligible general deposits are protected up to ¥10 million in principal per depositor, per financial institution, plus eligible interest up to the failure date. Eligible payment/settlement deposits meeting all three requirements—non-interest-bearing, payable on demand and providing payment services—are fully protected. Some deposits, including foreign-currency deposits, are excluded. Crypto assets do not have the same deposit insurance; immediate access and asset value are not guaranteed.

Financial Services Agency: deposit insurance (Japanese)

Exchange custody and self-custodyWho manages the keys changes your responsibilities.

An exchange holds/trades assets through its service; withdrawals depend on its procedures and systems. With self-custody, you manage the private keys and authorize transfers. You also take responsibility for loss of keys, scams and mistaken transfers. Exchange protections vary by country, provider and contract. Self-custody does not remove network problems or restrictions imposed by services you use.

Financial Services Agency: information for crypto users (Japanese)

Hardware walletsBuying a device and using it appropriately are different steps.

A hardware wallet is a tool for managing supported private keys on a dedicated device. It does not, by itself, prevent scams, mistakes or loss of backups. Learn to check authorized purchasing channels, inspect the device, initialize it yourself and verify what it displays. This resource does not imply that COMPASS is a manufacturer’s dealer or partner.

Manufacturer reference: Trezor FAQ

Private keys and recovery phrasesKeep control of them yourself.

Supported wallets use backup phrases or other backup methods for recovery. A third party who obtains the necessary secrets may be able to control the assets. Do not send them to an instructor or someone claiming to be support, or expose them in photographs or screen sharing. Check the genuine device/wallet documentation for its supported backup method and recovery procedure.

Manufacturer reference: scams and phishing

Transaction-checking habitsConfirmed transfers generally cannot be reversed.

Check the supported asset and network, recipient, amount, fees and transaction status. Transactions confirmed on-chain generally cannot be cancelled, and recovery from a mistaken transfer is not guaranteed. Review the recipient service’s conditions and authorize the action yourself.

ethereum.org: How to use a wallet

Access, rights and valueA right to repayment is different from immediate access.

A bank/service outage, device failure or network congestion can affect access. Even with a right to repayment or protection under a scheme, restoring access may take procedures and time. Crypto brings other risks, including price volatility and private-key management. This is not a recommendation to move bank savings into crypto.

ethereum.org: How wallets work

05 / YOUR QUESTIONS

Before you get in touch.

Can I ask for a consultation as a beginner or without owning crypto?

Yes. The free 15-minute call clarifies your experience and learning needs. It does not require a purchase and does not include wallet setup or hands-on practice.

How do the two services differ?

Wallet Skills is one private lesson on foundations and practical steps (up to six hours including breaks, typically three to five), with 30 days of after-support. Full Setup includes hardware selection and authorized sourcing assistance, two guided sessions totaling up to six hours, and 90 days of after-support after setup. Full Setup’s hardware and shipping are extra.

What do I need to prepare?

You provide your own device, any necessary equipment and practice funds. Equipment, supported wallets/services, practice activities and costs are confirmed before booking.

What is not included in the ¥120,000 Full Setup fee?

Hardware, shipping/insurance, customs/import taxes, travel, additional sessions/support and other individually agreed costs are not included. We identify applicable costs in the quotation for you to review.

Can I learn from overseas? Does nationality affect the fee?

Eligible international customers can request online education. Wallet Skills has a ¥55,000 base fee; Full Setup has a ¥120,000 base service fee plus quoted applicable costs. There is no nationality-based surcharge. Location, payment, scheduling and local requirements are checked; if shipping is unavailable, the standard online lesson may be suitable instead.

Will the instructor initialize the device or manage my recovery phrase?

No. You initialize the device, generate/manage your secrets and authorize transactions yourself. COMPASS never requests, generates, photographs, receives or stores recovery phrases. We do not hold your private keys or assets, or execute transactions for you.

What can I ask during after-support?

Questions about what was covered in the service you purchased: for 30 days after a Wallet Skills lesson, or 90 days after Full Setup. During that period, you can call without an appointment and send messages at any time. We cannot promise immediate replies or 24/7 availability; if we miss your call, we will call you back when we are available. It excludes unlimited technical assistance, emergencies, investment advice, additional wallet installations, new transaction execution and extra private sessions.

What about payment, cancellation, refunds or shipping damage?

Before a paid contract, we explain payment methods/timing, cancellation/refund/rescheduling conditions, purchasing channels, delivery, damage and return arrangements with the quotation and conditions. Requesting a free consultation alone does not create a paid contract.

Will you recommend assets or tell me when to trade?

We do not provide personalized investment advice, buy/sell instructions, investment management or guarantees of profit. This is education about systems and practical operation.

Does self-custody or a hardware wallet guarantee safety?

No. Risks remain, including lost/exposed secrets, scams, mistakes and device/network problems. We do not promise absolute security or financial outcomes.

06 / LET’S FIND YOUR NEXT STEP

Start with 15 minutes.
And the questions you have today.

Tell us about your experience, what you want to learn and your preferred delivery method. We will work out the appropriate service and scope together.

Free 15-minute consultation

Add on LINE
Telegram Message on Telegram@compassryu
Email Send an emailcompass.ryu@gmail.com
  • A free suitability call; no wallet setup or hands-on practice.
  • We arrange the time and call method through LINE, email or Telegram.
  • Review the scope, total quotation and conditions before a paid contract.

This site accepts free consultation requests. It has no automated booking or payment system.