“Press release. As digital assets become more and more common in the French wealth management landscape, the question arises: what happens to crypto-assets after inheritance? Although almost 10% of French people currently own cryptocurrencies, few have planned to transfer them. However, unlike a bank account or a life insurance policy, a crypto wallet leaves no tangible footprint. No access to private keys or mechanisms […]”, — write: businessua.com.ua
Press release. As digital assets become increasingly common in the French wealth management landscape, the question arises: what happens to crypto assets after inheritance? Although almost 10% of French people currently own cryptocurrencies, few planned to their transfer. However, unlike a bank account or a life insurance policy, a crypto wallet leaves no tangible footprint . Without access to private keys or authentication mechanisms, these assets can literally disappear or get lost in the digital void. That’s why it’s crucial to plan ahead, and our partner Coinhouse recently offered a tip that we’re sharing with you here.
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A new challenge for ownership Crypto assets do not depend on any centralized registry and exist only in the blockchain memory. This characteristic, which is the basis of cryptophilosophy, guarantees the independence of these assets, but also becomes a major source of uncertainty after death: without foresight, without access to personal and sometimes secret digital identifiers, heirs are faced with invisible assets that are difficult to inventory and sometimes irretrievably lost.
Faced with these new challenges, Coinhouse identifies and shares five best practices for preparing for the transfer of digital assets.
Inventory, centralize and protect the memory of your assets. Although the European MiCA regulation has created the necessary framework for the development of digital assets, the issue of inheritance remains largely unexplored by lawyers, wealth management consultants, notaries and banking consultants. In this context and without automatic mechanisms, individuals are fully responsible for ensuring the continuity of their digital assets and, as a result, for the organization of their crypto-property.
The first important step in this process is creating an accurate and secure list of assets held : exchange platforms, amounts, types of cryptocurrencies, wallets and access devices. This list is stored confidentially in a digital storage – an encrypted cloud solution. or Surrendering assets to a notary public is the only way to ensure visibility of crypto-assets in inheritance while guaranteeing confidentiality and accessibility. This system, which is regularly updated, should allow heirs to have a reliable record of their digital assets without compromising safety .
Protecting your crypto-activity: between hardware wallets and hybrid solutions Hardware wallets (physical keys) is currently one of the most secure ways to store cryptocurrencies. They significantly reduce the risk of hacking, while offering a form of “materialization” of digital assets. When stored in a designated place (bank vault, notary office, family safe) they facilitate the transfer of funds and ensure that loved ones can ultimately receive and value digital assets. However, for more mobile people—expatriates, frequent travelers, digital nomads—this solution can quickly become cumbersome. Having to carry a physical key or return to the same location whenever needed can be impractical or even risky.
A suitable alternative is to use hybrid solutions for storage such as multi-signature wallets or digital repositories managed by trusted third parties . These systems, which offer a good balance between security, flexibility and international availability, distribute the keys between several parties (the saver, the regulated service provider, sometimes a notary or a specialized platform). No individual owner can access assets on their own, but collective signatures allow access to be restored as needed.
Credential security is an important concern when transferring your cryptocurrencies.
Choose adjustable storage solution For investors who want to delegate responsibility for the custody of their assets and get rid of certain technical aspects, the solution regarding storage, offered by providers registered with the AMF (French Financial Markets Authority), ensure professional and compliance security requirements . This approach provides improved traceability in a controlled environment, legal protection and a structured procedure in the event of death, which facilitates asset recovery.
Provide a secure exchange of access keys Planning the transfer of private keys and access is essential. This may include drawing up a digital succession document under the supervision of a lawyer, using multi-signature mechanisms or implementing delayed access systems entrusted to trusted third parties.
Purpose: to guarantee succession without compromising the security of the owner during his lifetime.
Educating the Next Generation: The Importance of Financial Literacy
Beyond the technical aspects of cryptocurrencies, digital asset transfers are part of a broader approach to financial education. Preparing heirs also means teaching them to use modern banking tools from an early age.
Backed by asset management experts who are trained to work with digital assets In addition to the technical aspects, the transfer of crypto assets requires individual support in estate planning. Working with a consultant, notary or specialist who understands the complexities of digital assets allows you to integrate cryptocurrencies into a coherent inheritance strategy, while ensuring tax compliance and coordination between heirs.
The inheritance of cryptoassets marks a significant shift in capital management and prompts broader thinking. As value is digitized, its transfer becomes a concrete issue of security, organization and education that goes beyond purely technical aspects. This financial education often begins with mastering simple payment solutions during adolescence. Early exposure to digital tools is often recommended for heirs to manage this complex wealth. Before tackling the volatility of Bitcoin, education could start with, for example, identifying the best card for kids, allowing younger people to familiarize themselves with digital budgeting interfaces – a logical first step before handing over more complex portfolios.
It also requires rethinking past practices, integrating them into a modern, multi-stakeholder approach to heritage. Thus, the key to the safe becomes an access code, the declaration of inheritance is accompanied by a digital audit, and the role of traditional players such as notaries evolves to roles of “guardians” of digital assets.
About Coinhouse
Coinhouse, a leading French player in the European market, was founded in 2014 under the name “La Maison du Bitcoin” (Bitcoin House). Its mission is to offer safe and educational services through its cryptocurrency investment and service platform. Coinhouse provides individual and corporate investors with brokerage, regulated storage, payment and asset management solutions for cryptocurrencies, as well as offers tailored to each investor’s profile. With over 100,000 active client accounts, Coinhouse provides the best secure cryptocurrency investing experience.
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