What Happens to Your Bitcoin When You Die?

The article explains what happens to self-custodied Bitcoin when someone dies, focusing on the role of private keys. Unlike traditional assets, self-custodied BTC has no beneficiary form or customer service to transfer ownership, meaning inheritance depends on whether family members can access the keys. If the keys are lost, the coins remain permanently locked on the blockchain. Citing Chainalysis, it estimates about 3.7 million BTC—valued around $315 billion as of October 4, 2026—appear to be lost. It contrasts this with Bitcoin held at a brokerage or regulated custodian, handled through estate paperwork. It also advises avoiding seed phrases in wills because probate can make them public, recommending a separate letter of instruction pointing heirs to where the seed phrase is stored.