How to create a crypto inheritance plan
A crypto inheritance plan is a set of instructions and backups that lets your heirs know your assets exist, find them, and access them, all without exposing your Seed Phrase while you're alive. Without a plan, self-custodied crypto can be lost forever.
Unlike a bank account, there's no institution to contact. If no one knows about the wallet, or no one can find the backup, the funds just sit on the blockchain, out of reach.
The three problems your plan needs to solve
1. Knowing the assets exist
Many heirs simply don't know the person owned crypto. Without that information, nothing can even begin.
2. Finding and using the backup
Knowing there's a wallet isn't enough. Your heirs need to know where the backup is, which wallet to use to restore it, and how to do it, often without ever having touched crypto before.
3. Not exposing the Seed too soon
Handing your Seed to an heir today solves future access, but it creates an immediate risk: loss, theft, misuse, or a scam targeting someone with no experience.
How to build an inheritance plan, step by step
- Take inventory: which wallets you have, on which networks, and which assets are held on exchanges (those follow the exchange's own process).
- Organize your backups: every self-custody wallet needs a tested, securely stored Seed backup.
- Write simple instructions: which wallet to install, where the backups are, and how to restore step by step, in plain language for beginners.
- Separate the sensitive parts: an heir can know the instructions and locations, but full access should require more than one piece.
- Make it official: talk to a lawyer about including your crypto in your will or estate plan.
- Review it regularly: new wallets get created, old ones get emptied, and backups get moved.
Separate to protect: the two-part approach
The best practice for crypto inheritance is that no single piece grants access to the funds. That way, if one piece is found, lost, or leaked too early, your assets stay protected.
The SafeVault Card works this way by design. Your Seed is encrypted on your iPhone, and recovery requires two parts: the physical vault (the NFC card or the QR code) and the master password. One without the other reveals nothing. In an inheritance plan, this means you could, for example, leave the card with a family member and keep the master password in a document held by a lawyer or stored with your will. Each part on its own is useless.
What to include in the instructions for your heirs
- The list of wallets and the networks they use
- Where the backups are and how to access them
- Which app or wallet to use to restore them
- A clear warning: never type the Seed into a website or give it to anyone offering "help"
- Trusted contacts who can guide them through the process
Frequently asked questions
Can I just put my Seed Phrase in my will?
It's not recommended: wills may be read by several people and, in some cases, can become accessible documents. It's better for your will to say where the parts are, not what the words are.
What about crypto held on exchanges?
It follows the exchange's own succession process, using documents such as a death certificate and probate records. What matters is that your heirs know the account exists.
How often should I review my plan?
At least once a year, and any time you create or close a wallet or move a backup.
Conclusion
Planning your crypto inheritance means making sure your wealth outlives you. A good plan ensures your heirs know the assets exist, can find the backups, and are able to use them, without exposing your Seed too soon.
An inventory, clear instructions, separate parts, and regular reviews keep your digital wealth from becoming inaccessible to the very people you want to protect. For the legal side, always get guidance from a lawyer.
