Cryptocurrency access works differently from traditional bank accounts when it comes to inheritance. Understanding how wallet types handle this is an important part of planning.
Published September 15, 2026 · 2 min read
For a non-custodial wallet, access depends entirely on the seed phrase. If no one else knows it or can access it after the holder's death, the funds generally cannot be recovered by anyone, including family members. This is different from a bank account, where an estate can work with the institution to gain access. The seed phrase is the only key.
For a custodial wallet, a provider may have a process for next-of-kin or an estate to claim an account's funds after death. This depends entirely on that specific provider's own policies and the documentation it requires, such as a death certificate and proof of inheritance. Each provider handles this differently, so checking their terms in advance is useful.
Including instructions for how a trusted person could access wallet recovery information after death, without sharing that information while alive, is a practice some people use for a non-custodial wallet's seed phrase. This is similar in principle to other estate-planning documents. The goal is to balance security during your lifetime with recoverability afterward.
Whether cryptocurrency holdings need to be declared as part of an estate for inheritance or tax purposes depends on local law, which varies by country. This is a matter for a legal or tax professional to advise on, not a wallet or card provider. Nexus Pay, like other wallets, does not provide estate or tax guidance.
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