Mortality is a topic most people would rather not talk about. But then, it’s a nagging topic that must be trashed out. Who gets access to all your digital access after your death? Would your family be able to gain access to your bitcoins, Facebook, email, twitter, online bank account and the likes. When it comes to digital currencies, they exist basically in virtual form and are extremely secure. For bitcoin, every owner has a private key or password, that allows them gain secure access to the bitcoins stored in their digital wallet. However, there is no method of retrieving this private key after death so a potential heir can get access to the bitcoins because there is no way to track the private keys as there is no central authority.
What this means is that if you kick the bucket without leaving your private key, your bitcoins becomes inaccessible to anyone. If nobody gains access to your bitcoin, it becomes lost. So, the question remains how do I ensure that my cryptocurrency is properly passed on?
- Ensure your heirs are aware that you own crypto and you can either trust them either with your private key while you are still alive or write it down on a piece of paper or store the private key in a secure location such as a safety deposit box or even a flash drive.
- You could set up a time locked transaction that could take place in a number of years. However your heirs must have the corresponding receiver address to receive the bitcoin on the said date. However, this is a bit risky as the bitcoin would transfer to the receiver whether you are dead or not.
- You can also utilise third parties like Coinbase which offers joint accounts. This would allow your heirs gain access to your bitcoin smoothly.
However, despite trying to ensure that your loved ones gain access to your crypto when you cross over to the great beyond, you should be aware of the risks also. By making your wishes known, an unscrupulous entity might walk away with the bitcoin if they get access to the private key. Also, you should seek professional help as the laws concerning inheritance of digital assets varies.
The United States have laws enacted by most states from 2015 which gives people the power to plan for the management and disposition of their digital assets just as tangible assets. However, countries like Australia do not have laws that directly addresses the access of a person’s digital assets upon death by his/her family. Equally, countries like South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria do not possess such laws yet.
What do you think about including your bitcoin private key in your will? Share your opinion with us in the comment section below.
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