Crypto inheritance stopped being a niche problem this autumn. In the space of two weeks, TokenPocket launched onchain asset inheritance (September 22, 2026) and Uphold launched Vault Inheritance (October 1, 2026). They join older options like Bitkey and Casa.
They all promise the same thing: your family gets your crypto if something happens to you. But they work in very different ways, and the differences matter most in the one situation you can't fix later. This guide compares them on the questions that decide whether your heirs actually receive anything.
The one question that matters: who sits in the middle?
Every inheritance setup has to answer one question: who, or what, decides that it's time for your heirs to take over? There are three broad answers.
- A company with your funds (custodial). Exchanges like Coinbase or Binance hold the coins. Heirs go through the exchange's estate process with a death certificate and legal paperwork.
- A company with one key (assisted self-custody). You hold most of the keys, but the provider holds one and must approve or co-sign the hand-over. Uphold, Bitkey and Casa work this way.
- A smart contract (non-custodial, onchain). Rules you set in advance run onchain: inactivity, waiting periods, and sometimes people who confirm. No company can approve, block or delay the transfer. TokenPocket and 0xWills work this way.
None of these is wrong. Each trades convenience against dependence on a company being around, and cooperative, years from now.
The options side by side
| Option | How heirs get access | Who is in the middle | Waiting period | Assets | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uphold Vault Inheritance | Beneficiary submits a death certificate or probate order; Uphold reviews and co-signs the transfer | Uphold (holds 1 of 3 keys) | Depends on document review | Bitcoin, XRP, HBAR and some XRPL tokens | $19.99/month in the US (30-day trial) |
| Bitkey | Beneficiary starts a claim; if you don't respond, it is approved automatically | Block's server key | 6 months | Bitcoin | Not published |
| Casa | Recipient requests access; Casa notifies you during the wait | Casa app and key | 6 months | BTC, ETH, USDT, USDC | From $250/year (Standard plan at launch) |
| TokenPocket | Heir can start the process after an inactivity period and a waiting period you set | None (smart contract, EIP-7702) | You choose | Onchain assets (networks not detailed) | Not published |
| 0xWills (launching soon) | You stop checking in, verifiers you chose confirm, a dispute window passes, heirs claim to their own wallets | None (Safe module) | You choose (check-in interval plus dispute window) | ETH and ERC-20 tokens across EVM chains | Pricing not announced yet |
Sources: TokenPost on Uphold pricing, Bitkey support, Casa's launch announcement, ChainCatcher on TokenPocket. Details change; check each provider before you decide.
Assisted self-custody: Uphold, Bitkey and Casa
Uphold Vault is a 2-of-3 multisig: you hold two keys and Uphold holds one, so both you and Uphold must approve any movement. Your beneficiary needs an Uphold account and sees nothing while you're alive. After a death, Uphold's compliance team reviews the documents and co-signs. It's familiar and legally tidy, but the hand-over depends on Uphold's review.
Bitkey (from Block) uses a six-month security delay. Your beneficiary needs their own Bitkey hardware device. When a claim is approved, your encrypted app key passes to them, and together with Block's server key they can move the bitcoin. It's simple for families who are bitcoin-only.
Casa lets you share locked, encrypted keys with a recipient. A transfer request starts a six-month wait during which Casa notifies you. It supports more assets than Bitkey, at a yearly subscription.
The common thread: these are good products, but each one puts a company's key or process between your heirs and the money. If the company changes its terms, freezes accounts in a region, or shuts down, your plan depends on what happens to that key.
Onchain inheritance: TokenPocket and Safe modules
Smart-contract inheritance removes the company from the decision. You set the rules once and the blockchain enforces them.
TokenPocket uses EIP-7702 to let a regular wallet designate heirs with inactivity triggers and cancellable waiting periods, with no third-party custody. That is a big step for everyday wallet users.
0xWills takes the same idea to Safe smart accounts, where many large onchain holdings already live. You add the 0xWills module to your Safe and set:
- Heirs by wallet, each with a percentage share
- A check-in interval: a simple signed "I'm still here" every few months
- Verifiers you trust (optional), who must confirm before anything starts
- A dispute window: one last chance to stop a mistaken trigger
Funds never leave your Safe until the end. You can cancel at any time and sweep everything back to your own wallet. One signed plan covers your Safes on every EVM chain you use, so ETH on Ethereum and USDC on Arbitrum follow the same rules. 0xWills is running on testnets now and launching soon.
Five questions to ask before you choose
- What happens if the provider disappears? If a company's key or approval is required, ask how heirs get access if that company no longer exists in 15 years.
- Can I cancel or change it at any time? Life changes. Make sure you can update heirs or cancel without anyone's permission.
- What does my heir need? A specific account, a hardware device, or just a wallet address? The simpler, the more likely it works.
- Does it cover everything I hold? Bitcoin only, a few tokens, or every chain you use? Most families hold more than one asset.
- How is a false alarm stopped? A long trip or hospital stay shouldn't trigger a transfer. Look for waiting periods, confirmations from people you trust, or both.
Bottom line: Any plan beats no plan. If you want a company to handle the paperwork, assisted self-custody is reasonable. If you want your heirs to inherit even if every company involved is gone, choose a setup where the rules live onchain and no one can stand in the middle.
Frequently asked questions
What is the safest way to inherit crypto?
The safest setups never require sharing a seed phrase. They use multisig or a smart contract so heirs get access only when clear conditions are met, and you can cancel at any time while you are alive.
Do I still need a will if I use an onchain inheritance tool?
Yes. A legal will settles who is entitled to your assets; an onchain tool handles how the transfer actually happens. Keep them consistent, and talk to an estate lawyer in your country.
Does 0xWills hold my crypto?
No. Your assets stay in your own Safe the whole time. 0xWills is a module that only follows the rules you set, and you can switch it off at any time.