I think it's prudent to use exchanges as needed, but only transfer assets that you intend to exchange in the near future, and withdraw once the exchange is done

I think it's prudent to use exchanges as needed, but only transfer assets that you intend to exchange in the near future, and withdraw once the exchange is done. There's still a slight risk, but much less compared to just letting funds sit on an exchange indefinitely. Of course, choosing a reputable, long-standing exchange like Coinbase also helps.