Crypto inheritance — how beneficiaries access holdings after death
Quick answer: List all holdings and locations in estate planning documents. Store seed phrase access separately from the public will — e.g. solicitor sealed letter. Executors need death certificate and grant of probate to contact exchanges. The Property (Digital Assets etc) Act 2025 clarifies digital assets can be property in England and Wales.
Crypto does not pass automatically like a bank account. Without access instructions, holdings can be lost forever even if they form part of the estate.
Exchange-held crypto
Executors contact the exchange with death certificate, grant of probate, and executor ID. Processes vary — some exchanges have dedicated bereavement teams. Expect delays of weeks or months.
Plan for ownership and access
An original digital-estate planning illustration
An executor needs to identify the assets and follow a secure access process. Legal instructions and private-key security need to work together; do not publish recovery phrases.
Read the diagram as text
- 01. Inventory. Record what exists and where the records are kept.
- 02. Legal instructions. Document your wishes and the appropriate executor role.
- 03. Secure access plan. Arrange a safe recovery process without exposing secrets.
Self-custody and seed phrases
Without seed phrase or hardware device, assets may be irrecoverable. Tested backup instructions given to a solicitor or trusted party are essential.
Valuation for probate and IHT
Value holdings at date of death in sterling. Volatile assets need timestamped price evidence.
Legal framework
The Property (Digital Assets etc) Act 2025 confirms digital assets can be property for succession in England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland differ — take local advice.
Frequently asked questions
Can a lawyer hold my seed phrase? +
Some solicitors store sealed instructions. Ensure they understand crypto — many are still learning.