- Kresus launches cryptocurrency inheritance service for self-managed users.
- Users can pass on their cryptocurrency to their heirs without sharing their private keys.
- A new tool aims to simplify digital asset legacy planning.
Kresus has launched a new estate planning service designed to allow cryptocurrency investors to securely transfer digital assets to their beneficiaries after death without sharing private keys or resorting to complex recovery procedures.
The company said its new subscription-based service, called Kresus Inheritance, is built directly into self-managed wallets and aims to solve one of the biggest challenges facing cryptocurrency investors. This means ensuring that digital assets can be passed down across generations while retaining user control throughout their lifetime.
This launch comes as cryptocurrency ownership continues to increase and concerns persist about the long-term management and inheritance of self-managed digital assets.
Kresus introduces inheritance planning for cryptocurrency holders
Kresus said that while self-custody allows users to gain complete control over their cryptocurrency holdings, the support infrastructure available in traditional asset management cannot keep pace.
According to the company, beneficiary designations, estate transfer mechanisms, recovery pathways, and long-term planning tools are virtually non-existent in the self-custody ecosystem.
Existing alternatives often require users to expose sensitive information, such as writing down a seed phrase or sharing a private key, creating potential security risks.
“Too much digital wealth has already been lost because there was no plan for what happened next,” said Trevor Traina, founder and CEO of Kresus.
“Self-storage shouldn’t mean your assets disappear no matter what happens to you. With Kresus Inheritance, we’re giving users a safe and affordable way to protect their legacy and pass the wealth they’ve accumulated to the next generation.”
This service costs $99.99 per year and is integrated into the Kresus wallet.
How Inheritance Services Work
Kresus Inheritance allows users to designate beneficiaries who will only have access to the wallet owner’s cryptocurrency holdings after a predefined period of inactivity.
The company said that private keys are not shared during the transfer process, allowing users to maintain full control of their assets while they are active.
Kresus also emphasized that it does not manage customer assets.
The wallet owner retains control unless a defined period of inactivity expires and a succession process is initiated.
According to the company, a user holding $50,000 in Bitcoin can name a spouse or adult child as a beneficiary without giving them access to the assets before a confirmed succession event occurs.
Cryptocurrency ownership increases as inheritance issues persist.
Kresus cited a Harris Poll study that estimates that 55 million U.S. adults, or 21% of the population, currently own cryptocurrency.
At the same time, the company pointed to research from the Cremation Institute, which found that 89% of cryptocurrency investors are worried about what will happen to their digital assets after they die.
The company said Kresus Inheritance is intended to address these concerns by providing users with built-in succession planning tools before they are needed.
This launch also expands Kresus’ broader wallet platform, which already serves millions of self-managed wallet users through the Kresus wallet, mini app experience, and enterprise solutions.
Kresus said the new service reflects its strategy to expand beyond digital asset storage into a broader asset management platform, with estate planning becoming part of the self-management experience for cryptocurrency investors.