What does "cold storage" refer to in cryptocurrency security?

Cold storage refers to the practice of keeping cryptocurrency assets completely offline to enhance security against unauthorized access and hacking attempts. By storing private keys or wallets in offline environments, such as hardware wallets, paper wallets, or other forms of physical storage that are not connected to the internet, users significantly reduce the risk of cyber threats. This method is essential for long-term storage and protection of digital assets, as online storage (known as "hot storage") is more susceptible to attacks.

The other options do not accurately describe cold storage. Storing data on the cloud relates to online storage methods that can expose assets to vulnerabilities. The term for high-interest digital wallets refers to wallets that offer interest on deposits, which has no relevance to the concept of storing assets securely. Lastly, storing tokens in encrypted databases does not imply that the storage is offline, as such databases could still be accessible via online connections, thus posing similar risks to hot storage methods.