A “wallet” is always live on-chain. Your addresses and coins never go offline just because you air-gapped a phone or bought a hardware wallet. Those only keep the keys offline. Software wallets have been compromised before, and air-gapped setups have a high margin for error. If you don’t feel comfortable committing to a genuine hardware wallet (direct from the manufacturer) and following strict handling procedures, you’re usually better off leaving the coins on a major exchange. Set up a physical hardware security key (not SMS or email). Turn on withdrawal limits and address restrictions. That last line of defense beats a half-managed self-custody setup for most people. Then relax..