Kresus launches crypto inheritance service for self-custody wallet users

• Kresus launches crypto inheritance service for self-custody users.
• Users can pass crypto to heirs without sharing private keys.
• New tool aims to simplify digital asset legacy planning.

Kresus has launched a new inheritance planning service designed to help cryptocurrency investors securely transfer their digital assets to beneficiaries after death without sharing private keys or relying on complex recovery procedures.

The company said the new subscription-based service, called Kresus Inheritance, is built directly into its self-custody wallet and aims to address one of the biggest challenges facing crypto investors: ensuring digital assets can be passed on across generations while maintaining user control during their lifetime.

The launch comes as cryptocurrency ownership continues to grow, while concerns persist over the long-term management and inheritance of self-custodied digital assets.

Kresus introduces inheritance planning for crypto holders

Kresus said self-custody gives users full control over their cryptocurrency holdings, but the supporting infrastructure available in traditional wealth management has not kept pace.

According to the company, beneficiary designations, estate transfer mechanisms, recovery pathways and long-term planning tools remain largely absent from the self-custody ecosystem.

Existing alternatives often require users to expose sensitive information, such as writing down seed phrases or sharing private keys, creating potential security risks.

“Too much digital wealth has already been lost because there was no plan for what happens next,” said Trevor Traina, Founder and CEO of Kresus.

“Self-custody shouldn’t mean your assets disappear if something happens to you. With Kresus Inheritance, we’re giving users a secure and affordable way to protect their legacy and ensure the wealth they’ve built can be passed on to the next generation.”

The service is priced at $99.99 per year and is integrated into the Kresus wallet.

How the inheritance service works

Kresus Inheritance allows users to designate a beneficiary who can gain access to the wallet owner’s cryptocurrency holdings only after a predefined inactivity period has elapsed.

The company said private keys are never shared during the transfer process, allowing users to retain full control of their assets while they remain active.

Kresus also emphasized that it does not take custody of customer assets.

The wallet owner remains in control unless the defined inactivity period expires and the succession process is triggered.

According to the company, a user holding $50,000 in Bitcoin can designate a spouse or adult child as a beneficiary without granting them access to the assets before a verified succession event occurs.

Crypto ownership grows as inheritance concerns persist

Kresus cited a Harris Poll study estimating that 55 million US adults, or 21% of the population, now own cryptocurrency.

At the same time, the company pointed to research from the Cremation Institute, which found that 89% of crypto investors worry about what happens to their digital assets after death.

The company said Kresus Inheritance is intended to address that concern by providing users with a built-in succession planning tool before it becomes necessary.

The launch also expands Kresus’ broader wallet platform, which the company said already serves millions of self-custody wallet users through the Kresus Wallet, mini-app experiences and enterprise solutions.

Kresus said the new offering reflects its strategy of expanding beyond digital asset storage into a broader wealth management platform, with inheritance planning becoming part of the self-custody experience for cryptocurrency investors.