Crypto Inheritance Planning (UK)

Plan crypto inheritance with a verified, documented recovery process for families and executors, without Bitzo ever holding keys. UK-based, non-custodial, and aligned with how UK probate, wills, and professional advisers actually work.

Why crypto inheritance fails

Two failure modes account for almost every loss:

Lost access. No one knows the wallets exist, where keys are stored, or how to recover them. Assets become permanently unreachable.
Unwanted access. Keys are shared too broadly or stored insecurely. Holdings are exposed to theft, family disputes, or premature transfer.

A real plan addresses both at the same time, recovery is possible, but only by the right people, at the right time, after verification.

The Bitzo inheritance model

Verified trusted contacts, identity-verified family members, executors, or advisers who can coordinate recovery.
Policy Pack, a plain-language reference an executor or solicitor can actually use, without crypto expertise.
Recovery workflow, defined triggers, verification protocol, and step sequence for different scenarios (death, incapacity, lost device).
Audit trail, every verification call, code, and action is logged for fiduciary oversight.
Non-custodial, Bitzo never holds keys, never asks for seed phrases, and never takes custody.

What recovery looks like for your family

Seen from your family's side, the process is deliberately simple: contact Bitzo, prove who you are, and be guided through the documented steps.

Your family contacts Bitzo. The Policy Pack tells your family exactly who to contact and how. They speak to a real UK-based specialist who knows how the process works, no crypto knowledge is needed on their side.
Identity and authority are verified. Recorded video or phone calls, rotating one-time verification codes, and documentation checks, for example a death certificate or grant of probate where the situation requires it, all cross-referenced against your Policy Pack.
We coordinate with your executor and solicitor. Bitzo coordinates timing between your verified contacts, your executor, and any professional advisers involved, so everyone acts in the right order and with verified authority.
Guided recovery follows your documented workflow. A specialist guides your family and executor through the steps set out in your plan. Bitzo never holds keys and never moves funds, we coordinate the people who are authorised to act.
An audit trail is available throughout. Every call, code, document check, and action is logged with timestamps and evidence, giving executors and advisers a complete record for estate administration and fiduciary oversight.

Nothing happens without verification, and nothing depends on your family understanding wallets, keys, or exchanges. The plan does the remembering; Bitzo does the coordinating.

How it works alongside your will and executors

Wills become public during probate. Never include seed phrases, private keys, or recovery details in a will. The Bitzo process complements traditional estate planning:

Your will acknowledges digital assets exist (without sensitive details).
Your solicitor or estate planner is told a separate Bitzo process exists.
Your executor is given a reference to the Policy Pack, not the keys.
Trusts and other structures can reference digital assets where appropriate.

This is operational coordination, not legal or tax advice. Regulated advice should come from your adviser, STEP solicitor, or accountant.

How this works with your will and solicitor

The Property (Digital Assets etc) Act 2025, which received Royal Assent on 2 December 2025, confirms that digital assets can be personal property under the law of England and Wales. One practical consequence: a standard "personal possessions" clause in a will does not automatically cover cryptoassets, so wills should address digital assets explicitly.

What must never go in the will itself is the access. Wills become public documents during probate, seed phrases, private keys, and recovery details have no place in them. The will should acknowledge that digital assets exist; the secure recovery process lives elsewhere.

Your will acknowledges digital assets exist, without any sensitive details.
Your solicitor or estate planner is told a separate Bitzo recovery process exists.
Your executor is given a reference to the Policy Pack, never the keys.
A letter of wishes can point to the process without exposing anything sensitive.

Bitzo's documentation is designed to complement your will and letter of wishes, not replace them. We work alongside solicitors, estate planners, and IFAs, coordinating the operational side while they handle the legal side. This is operational coordination, not legal advice. See how Bitzo works with professional advisers.

Inheritance tax still applies

Cryptoassets are property for inheritance tax purposes. They form part of the estate and are valued at the date of death, like any other asset, being hard to find does not put them outside the estate. That is one more reason a documented, discoverable inventory matters for executors.

Bitzo does not provide tax advice, speak to your accountant or adviser for your own position. For the detail, read our guide: HMRC Inheritance Tax and Cryptoassets.

Who this is for

UK private clients with meaningful crypto positions.
Families where one person holds the crypto and the rest do not understand it.
Named executors who need a workflow that does not require them to learn cryptocurrency.
Advisers whose clients hold crypto and need a documented plan.

Common questions

What is crypto inheritance planning?

It is a documented process that defines who can act, what must be verified, and how access is coordinated so assets can be recovered without exposing private keys.

Do you ever hold or control the crypto?

No. Bitzo is non-custodial. We coordinate verification and process; keys and wallets remain under your control.

Will Bitzo ever ask for seed phrases or private keys?

No. Bitzo never asks for seed phrases, private keys, wallet PINs, or exchange passwords.

Where does the key come from when someone dies?

From the places you already control. Your keys and backups stay where you keep them, a safe, a bank deposit box, or with your solicitor. The Policy Pack records where they are and who is allowed to retrieve them. When recovery is triggered, Bitzo verifies the person's identity and authority, then guides them to retrieve and use those keys. The optional Bitcoin timelock adds a cryptographic backstop that works even without Bitzo. Bitzo never holds the keys itself.

Does an executor need probate before anything can happen?

It depends on the situation and the authority required. Bitzo verifies identity and legal authority, and the required documents are defined in your plan.

What if my family does not understand crypto?

That is exactly what the process is designed for. Bitzo guides verified contacts through the steps, with documentation and audit trails.

How does this relate to crypto security?

Security and inheritance are linked. A plan must withstand real-world loss, coercion, and device failure. See our security service.

Related insights

Next step

Most plans start with a short discovery call to understand your situation. Book a 20-minute call or view plan pricing.