Crypto Wills

ALL 0-9 $A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Ownership • Legacy • Access Control • Sovereignty

ownership transfer protocol

Crypto Wills are smart contract-based or cryptographically secured systems designed to ensure digital assets like cryptocurrency, NFTs, or tokenized property can be passed on to heirs upon the owner’s death or incapacitation. These systems may involve multi-signature wallets, dead-man switches, decentralized identity verification, or legal smart contracts that automate inheritance execution without the need for traditional courts or probate.

Use Case: An individual sets up a multi-sig wallet requiring a backup signer to gain access only after 12 months of inactivity — effectively creating an automated will system that passes control of their crypto holdings to a designated heir.

Key Concepts:

Digital Asset Inheritance — Automated, jurisdiction-free succession for on-chain wealth
Dead-Man Switch — Time-based triggers for asset release upon inactivity
Multi-Sig & Escrow — Distributed approvals replacing traditional intermediaries
Smart Legal Contracts — Legally enforceable agreements encoded on-chain
Automated Inheritance Protocols — Self-executing systems for asset succession
Decentralized Estate Planning — Blockchain-native approach to wealth transfer
Private Key Governance Framework — Structured approach to key management and succession
Multisig Wallet — Requires multiple signatures for transaction authorization
Generational Wealth — Assets designed to pass across family generations
Blockchain Inheritance — On-chain systems for transferring digital assets to heirs
Legacy Protection Framework — Comprehensive strategy for preserving and transferring wealth
Seed Phrase — Recovery words that must be securely passed to heirs

Summary: Crypto Wills offer a blockchain-native approach to inheritance, using smart contracts and cryptographic tools to bypass legal bottlenecks and ensure seamless transfer of digital assets. By removing intermediaries and enabling programmable logic, they provide a secure, private, and autonomous alternative to traditional estate planning.

Feature	Crypto Wills	Traditional Wills
Execution	Automated via smart contract	Manual via court and executor
Privacy	Private and encrypted	Public legal documents
Jurisdiction	Global, blockchain-based	Nation-state legal system
Tamper Resistance	Cryptographically enforced	Vulnerable to disputes or fraud
Speed	Instant upon trigger conditions	Months to years (probate)
Cost	One-time setup + gas fees	Lawyers, courts, executor fees

Crypto Will Methods

approaches to on-chain inheritance

Dead-Man Switch
• Time-based inactivity trigger
• Regular “proof of life” required
• Auto-releases to heir after timeout
• Simple to set up
• Single point of failure risk
• Requires ongoing maintenance

Multisig Inheritance
• 2-of-3 or 3-of-5 structures
• Heir holds one key from start
• Trusted party confirms death
• No single point of failure
• Requires coordination
• More complex setup

Shamir Secret Sharing
• Split seed into shares (2-of-3, 3-of-5)
• Distribute to trusted parties
• No single party has full access
• Combine shares upon death
• Mathematically secure
• Trezor supports natively

Smart Contract Escrow
• Funds locked in contract
• Oracle verifies death event
• Auto-releases to designated wallet
• Fully automated execution
• Oracle dependency risk
• Most “trustless” option

Best Practice: Combine methods for redundancy. Use multisig for primary access, Shamir for seed backup, and a dead-man switch as fallback. No single system is perfect—layered approaches provide the best protection.

Setting Up a Crypto Will

step-by-step inheritance planning

Step	Action	Tools/Resources
1. Inventory	Document all crypto holdings, wallets, and locations	Spreadsheet, encrypted notes
2. Designate Heirs	Decide who receives what assets	Family discussion, legal counsel
3. Choose Method	Select inheritance mechanism (multisig, Shamir, etc.)	Hardware wallets, smart contracts
4. Create Access	Set up keys/shares for heirs or trustees	Multisig wallets, Shamir splits
5. Document	Write clear instructions for heirs	Step-by-step recovery guide
6. Test	Verify heirs can actually access funds	Practice recovery with small amounts
7. Maintain	Update annually or after major changes	Calendar reminders, review sessions

What Your Heirs Need

essential information for inheritance

Asset Information
• List of all cryptocurrencies held
• Approximate values
• Which wallets hold which assets
• Exchange accounts (if any)
• DeFi positions and staking
• NFT collections

Access Information
• Seed phrase locations
• Hardware wallet locations
• PIN codes or hints
• Passphrase (25th word) if used
• Multisig co-signer contacts
• Recovery share holders

Technical Guidance
• How to use hardware wallets
• How to restore from seed
• How to access exchanges
• How to move assets safely
• When to seek professional help
• Common mistakes to avoid

Legal & Tax
• Crypto-aware attorney contact
• Tax professional contact
• Cost basis records
• Transaction history exports
• Jurisdiction considerations
• Reporting obligations

The Gap: Most heirs have zero crypto experience. Your documentation must assume they know nothing. Include glossary terms, video tutorials, and trusted contacts who can help. The best crypto will is useless if heirs can’t follow the instructions.

Hardware for Crypto Inheritance

recommended tools for estate planning

Ledger
• Nano X/S Plus for storage
• Ledger Recover (optional)
• Multiple devices for heirs
• Clear recovery process
• Wide asset support
• Well-documented

Tangem
• Card-based backup system
• No battery concerns
• Extremely durable
• Simple for non-technical heirs
• Backup card to trusted party
• NFC-based recovery

Metal Seed Backups
• Fire-resistant (up to 1500°C)
• Flood-resistant
• Corrosion-resistant
• Multiple copies in different locations
• Cryptosteel, Billfodl, etc.
• Outlasts paper by decades

Trezor (Shamir)
• Model T supports Shamir natively
• Split seed into shares
• 2-of-3 or 3-of-5 schemes
• Distribute to trusted parties
• Most secure backup method
• Ideal for inheritance

Investment: Budget $200-$500 for proper inheritance infrastructure: multiple hardware wallets, metal backups, and secure storage. This is trivial compared to the assets being protected. Don’t let your wealth die with you due to a $50 oversight.

Crypto Will Checklist

Asset Documentation
☐ Complete inventory of holdings
☐ Wallet addresses documented
☐ Exchange accounts listed
☐ DeFi positions recorded
☐ NFT collections catalogued
☐ Approximate values noted

Access Setup
☐ Seed phrases backed up on metal
☐ Hardware wallets secured
☐ Multisig or Shamir configured
☐ Heir keys/shares distributed
☐ Dead-man switch active (if used)
☐ Test recovery completed

Documentation
☐ Step-by-step recovery guide written
☐ Hardware wallet instructions included
☐ Glossary of terms for heirs
☐ Trusted contacts listed
☐ Video walkthrough recorded (optional)
☐ Stored in secure location

Legal & Maintenance
☐ Crypto-aware attorney consulted
☐ Traditional will references crypto
☐ Tax records organized
☐ Annual review scheduled
☐ Heirs informed (not details)
☐ Update after major changes

The Principle: An estimated $140+ billion in crypto is already lost forever due to death without succession planning. Your crypto will isn’t about you — it’s about ensuring your family inherits what you’ve built. Plan now, or your wealth becomes a permanent donation to the blockchain.

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