How to leave cryptocurrency in your will

Cryptocurrency can be passed on just like cash, property or personal possessions, but it needs special care to make sure your loved ones can access it. In England and Wales, the legal principles for leaving assets in a will apply to crypto too, but you must provide the practical means to transfer it. This guide explains what to do, with clear UK-focused steps and links to further help.

What is cryptocurrency and how is it stored?

Cryptocurrency is a digital asset stored on a blockchain and accessed via a digital wallet. Wallets can be online, mobile, hardware devices, or even paper. To open a wallet you need the private key or a recovery phrase, often a 12 or 24 word seed. These keys are the only way to move the funds, so losing them typically means losing the asset.

How is cryptocurrency different when you leave it in a will?

From a legal point of view in England and Wales, cryptocurrency is treated as property, so you can leave it under the terms of your will. The main difference is practical. Executors and beneficiaries must be able to access private keys or recovery information. If they cannot, the cryptocurrency may be effectively lost even though it is named in the will.

Also remember the probate process can make details of your estate public. You should keep sensitive key material secure and not include it directly in the will document. For general guidance on wills and probate, see the advice on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/wills-probate-inheritance.

Practical steps to make sure your cryptocurrency is accessible

• Make a complete inventory of your crypto holdings: exchanges, wallet types, approximate amounts and where your private keys or seed phrases are stored. Keep this inventory with your other estate papers, but not written on the will itself.
• Identify where keys are held. If you use a custodian or exchange, leave the account name, login email and any two-factor authentication recovery options in a secure place. If you use a personal wallet, note the location of the hardware wallet and the safe storage of the recovery phrase.
• Use trusted storage solutions. Consider a safety deposit box or secure vault for hardware wallets or written seed phrases. If you use a custodial service, document that arrangement and include it in your estate inventory.
• Consider multi-signature wallets and inheritance services. Multi-sig wallets or specialist crypto inheritance providers allow multiple parties to cooperate to release funds after checks. This can protect you while making transfer feasible after death.
• Do not put private keys in the will. Wills can become public during probate. Instead, refer to a separate, dated digital assets memorandum stored securely that your executor knows how to access.
• Think about trusts for minors or vulnerable beneficiaries. If you want to leave crypto to someone under 18, a trust can hold and manage the asset until they come of age. Speak to an adviser about using a trust: our trusts service.
• Keep your executors informed. Tell your chosen executors where to find the inventory and how to access any custodial accounts, without exposing sensitive keys to unnecessary parties.

Sample wording ideas

When instructing your solicitor or will writer, you can include a clause that identifies holdings and authorises the executor to transfer them. Example clause for discussion only: "I give to [beneficiary name] all my right, title and interest in any cryptocurrency held by me at my death, together with any private keys, seed phrases or other information necessary to access such cryptocurrency, identified in the separate digital assets memorandum dated [date]." Always get legal advice so wording is valid for your circumstances.

Other legal and practical considerations

Lasting Powers of Attorney can help if you become unable to manage your affairs while alive, but they do not operate after death. If you want someone to manage your finances before death, consider a Lasting Power of Attorney. For tax and estate administration, your executor will include the value of crypto in the estate for probate. If you expect significant holdings, professional estate planning can reduce delays and risks.

When to get professional help

If your holdings are substantial or spread across multiple platforms, speak to a solicitor or an estate planner with crypto experience. We can help you write clear instructions, arrange trusts if needed, and ensure your will names the right people. If you are ready to make or update your will, see our will writing service: /will-writing, or create a straightforward document with our online option: /online-will.

Want personalised help? Contact our team for clear guidance on leaving crypto safely: Contact Beneficial Family Wills.

For further independent reading on making a will and keeping documents safe, Age UK has practical consumer advice at Age UK - Making a will.