The key to inheriting virtual currency heritage lies in planning ahead and safely passing access credentials. 1. Virtual currency inheritance refers to digital assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum left behind after an individual's death. The ownership of the assets depends on private keys or mnemonics. If there is no certificate, the assets will be permanently locked. 2. Although most countries do not have special laws, virtual currencies are generally regarded as legal property of individuals and are inheritable. The heirs must prove their rights through documents such as wills or court judgments. 3. The holder should organize the asset list, store and pass access vouchers securely. He can use a safe or multi-signature technology to avoid writing the private key into a public will and specify asset clues in the will; the heirs need to find the private key clues, prepare death certificates, identity certificates and inheritance documents, contact the trading platform or withdraw assets by themselves with the private key. Therefore, only through systematic planning can we ensure the smooth inheritance of digital wealth and avoid permanent loss of assets due to information asymmetry.

Official address of mainstream virtual currency exchange

• Binance:
• OK:
• Huobi:
• Gate.io:

1. What is virtual currency heritage?

Virtual currency heritage refers to various types of digital assets left behind by an individual after his death, such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), etc. Unlike traditional assets such as real estate and deposits, their existence is based on a string of data from blockchain technology, and their ownership and control are completely dependent on a core certificate - a private key (Private Key) or mnemonic Phrase .

This means that if the owner does not make arrangements in advance, it will be extremely difficult for the family to obtain these access credentials. Once the credentials are lost, these digital assets will always be locked in the blockchain network and no one can use them anymore, and they will disappear forever. Therefore, the key to its inheritance is not the asset itself, but how to hand over the "key" safely and legally.

2. Is it legal?

At present, most countries and regions around the world have not issued detailed laws specifically for virtual currency heritage. However, the general consensus in the legal community is that virtual currency, as a valuable digital commodity, should be regarded as part of the legal property of an individual .

Since it belongs to personal property, it is legally inheritable. The heirs have the right to inherit these digital assets as if they were inherited from other properties in accordance with the provisions of the local inheritance law. However, due to its particularity, in practice, the heirs often need to provide clearer evidence to prove ownership and inheritance, such as notarized wills or court judgments.

3. How to plan and collect?

The most core principle in dealing with virtual currency heritage is " planning in advance ". Whether it is an asset holder or a future heir, you should understand the following operational paths.

For asset holders, the following preparations should be made:

1. Organize the asset list. Clearly list all the types and quantities of digital assets you hold, and which trading platforms or self-supported devices they are stored in.

2. Securely pass access credentials. This is the most critical step. Never write private keys or mnemonic words directly in the will, as the will may be made public during the notarization process. Consider using physical hardware device storage, then store the device and instructions in the safe, and inform the trusted executor of the safe key or password.

3. Make good use of technical tools. Multi-Sig technology can be studied and used to set up a mechanism that requires multiple people (such as 2/3 of the heirs) to jointly confirm to use assets. In addition, some special digital heritage inheritance service platforms have appeared on the market, which can automatically perform asset transfers according to preset conditions.

4. Make a clear will. In the will, explicitly specify the heirs of the digital assets and explain the methods to obtain clues of the asset (rather than the direct private key), such as "My digital assets information is stored in the safe No. XX".

For heirs, the following steps are usually followed when collecting:

1. Look for clues. Carefully check the computers, mobile phones, notebooks, safes, etc. left by the deceased to find any clues about the transaction platform account, self-held device or private key records.

2. Prepare legal documents. Obtain the death certificate of the deceased, your identification certificate, and legal documents that prove your inheritance (such as a notarized will).

3. Contact relevant parties. If the assets are stored on a centralized trading platform, please bring the above legal documents to contact the platform's customer service department and apply for asset inheritance according to its official procedures. If the asset is self-held, you must find the private key or mnemonic, which is the only way to claim the asset.

Editor's summary

The core challenge of virtual currency heritage lies in " information asymmetry ". No matter how high the value of an asset is, if the heir does not know its existence or cannot obtain access, everything will be reset to zero. Therefore, for holders, preparing for the future is the only way to protect wealth. Start organizing your digital assets now and developing a clear, safe, and executable inheritance plan. This is not only a responsibility to yourself, but also a thoughtful care for your family. Remember that in the digital world, planning ahead is far more important than remediation afterwards.

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