Topic
What happens to crypto when you die?
Last reviewed:
- Quick fact 1
Whoever controls the private keys controls the crypto. Lost keys usually mean lost crypto.
Source: SEC Investor Bulletin: Crypto asset custody basics for retail investors (Dec 12, 2025)
- Quick fact 2
Crypto held by a custodian, such as an exchange, sits in an account the company controls.
Source: SEC Investor Bulletin: Crypto asset custody basics for retail investors (Dec 12, 2025)
- Quick fact 3
How crypto is stored affects who can reach it, and how.
Source: FINRA: Storing crypto assets
The short lesson
Crypto does not disappear when its owner dies. But it can become unreachable, which is almost the same thing.
What happens depends on where it is held:
- At an exchange or other custodian. The company holds the keys. Your family or executor usually contacts the company with a death certificate and legal papers. The company has its own process.
- In a self-custody wallet. Only the keys or the seed phrase can move it. If nobody can find them, nobody can move it. No company can reset them.
Simple steps that help your family:
- Write an inventory. List where you hold crypto: which exchanges, which wallets. Not the secrets, just where things are.
- Do not put a seed phrase in a will. Wills can become public records. Ask an estate attorney how to pass on access safely.
- Tell a trusted person that the inventory exists and where to find it.
- Keep records. Purchase dates and amounts help with taxes later.
This page is education, not legal advice. Laws differ by state and country.
Related terms
Go deeper in Lesson 8: What not your keys means
Common questions
Can an exchange release crypto to my family?
Many exchanges have a process for estates. It usually needs a death certificate and legal papers.
Should I put my seed phrase in my will?
No. Wills can become public. Ask an estate attorney about safer ways to pass on access.
What if nobody knows my crypto exists?
It can be lost. An inventory of where you hold it helps your family find it.
Is crypto part of an estate?
Usually yes, like other property. An estate attorney can explain the rules where you live.