What Happens to Your Coins if You Don’t Wake Up Tomorrow? — The Importance of a Digital Will in Crypto
Last year, a close friend of mine died in a car accident. He was only 29 years old. He didn’t have a will, nor did his family know how his digital wallets worked. He left behind a few hardware wallets, locked accounts, and an unsolved mystery:
“What will happen to these coins now?”
That day, I realized something important: The world of cryptocurrency is not just about wealth; it also comes with responsibility. Because if you are the only one who knows the passwords, everything could be lost forever with you.
- What is a Digital Will in Crypto?
A digital will is an instruction that specifies how a person’s digital assets (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum, NFTs) will be accessed and who will inherit them after death.
Traditional inheritance systems usually do not recognize crypto. Courts cannot break hardware wallets or decode seed phrases.
So planning access is just as important as securing the asset itself.
- It All Starts and Ends with the Seed Phrase
The “seed phrase,” or recovery key of a crypto wallet, is the master key to everything.
But if it’s only memorized — it's lost when you are.
If it’s written down somewhere — it could be stolen.
🧠 Two common mistakes:
Not writing the seed down at all
Giving it to someone untrustworthy
✅ Better ideas:
Store a physical copy in a trusted safe
Distribute the seed phrase in parts to multiple trusted family members
Store an encrypted digital file and access instructions separately
- Crypto Inheritance: To Whom and How?
Passing on a crypto wallet isn’t just about giving someone your password.
Think about this:
“You inherit a $150,000 wallet... but don’t know how to use it.”
That’s why the heir should either understand crypto or receive a guide.
Even a handwritten “Crypto User Manual” can be a lifesaver.
- Is There a Legally Valid Way?
Most countries (like Turkey) still don’t clearly define digital assets under inheritance law.
But you can take these steps:
Add crypto info to a notarized will
List wallet types and balances (not full details)
Create a secure delivery method (e.g., “Open this email after my death”)
- Why Should You Prepare Now?
Crypto grows fast.
What’s worth 10,000 TRY today could be worth 1 million TRY in a few years.
But if nobody can access it… it’s gone.
❗ Don’t let your hard work become digital trash.
📌 Conclusion
We focus on gains in crypto — but forget about protection.
A digital will isn’t just for millionaires.
Even if you have 2,000 TRY in crypto, you have a responsibility.
💬 Ask yourself:
“If I weren’t here, what would happen to my digital wallet?”
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Because knowledge grows when shared. 🚀