Bitcoin Self-Custody Built to Survive Real Life
Inheritance-ready structure, clear procedures, no single point of failure.
2-of-3 multisig · Client-controlled · Since 2016 · Zero satoshis lost
Transparent terms. We never hold your bitcoin. Clear governance.
Your bitcoin remains in self-custody. We are not custodians.
We act as a key agent within a collaborative security structure designed to reduce loss, theft, and inheritance risk, without taking possession or unilateral control of your assets.
Your keys, your structure: client-controlled 2-of-3 multisig with design, documentation, and co-signing under your authorization—never unilateral control or third-party custody of your assets.
What This Is / What This Is Not
What this is
- Self-custody with 2-of-3 multisig
- Client-controlled structure
- Recovery and inheritance support (EPP)
- Less reliance on one device, backup, or person
What this is not
- An exchange or managed fund
- Third-party custody or rehypothecation
- Unilateral control by The Bitcoin Adviser
How Collaborative Security Works
2-of-3 collaborative multisig: you initiate spends; no one co-signs without your authorization within the policy.
You hold one key; a platform partner (e.g. Theya or Unchained) may hold one; The Bitcoin Adviser holds one under a signing policy. Funds stay in your multisig wallet—not on our balance sheet and not available for us to deploy.
No single party can move funds alone. You remain in full control. Orange paths show one example quorum—any valid pair of two signatures works.
Technical details: key agents & quorum
Three Independent Key Agents
- You: hold one key and initiate transactions.
- Technology partner (Theya or Unchained): vault platform and coordination layer; may hold one key.
- The Bitcoin Adviser: holds one key as part of the signing policy; provides security oversight, continuity support, and co-signing under your authorization.
Two Signatures Required
- Quorum-based spending: 2-of-3 signatures are required for every spend.
- Redundancy without surrender: you retain control while distributing responsibility across multiple keys.
- Continuity by design: documented procedures keep the system executable for trustees/heirs.
Control Map
| Role | Holds a key? | Can initiate spends? | Can move funds alone? |
|---|---|---|---|
| You | Yes | Yes | No (needs one co-signer) |
| Technology partner (Theya/Unchained) | Yes | No | No (needs one co-signer) |
| The Bitcoin Adviser | Yes | No | No (needs one co-signer) |
Put simply: you remain sovereign, and the system stays recoverable if life happens.
Spending and withdrawals
You initiate every spend; co-signing follows your authorization.
Client-controlled at every step · Remains fully self-custody
1 · You Initiate
You initiate the transaction from your account. You always remain the originator of spending intent.
2 · Authorization & Verification
We co-sign only after your authorization. For higher-risk events (e.g., large withdrawals, address changes, unusual patterns), we may use additional verification steps.
3 · Co-Signing & Broadcast
Once authorized, the required co-signer signs and the transaction can be broadcast. You can maintain your own records and reporting for accountants, auditors, trustees, or committees.
Reasonable Safety Checks (Not Friction)
Collaborative Security is designed to prevent catastrophic outcomes without turning spending into a bureaucratic process. When additional checks are required, they are applied to the risk event (e.g., address change), not to normal day-to-day control.
Lifecycle: onboard with your vault partner, run repeatable approvals and records day to day, and optionally revisit keys, devices, and roles over time—so the structure stays healthy and governance does not drift.
Continuity, Not Just Storage
Most setups optimize for storage. The hard part is continuity—when someone is unavailable, a device fails, or heirs need an executable path. Collaborative Security pairs multisig with an Estate Plan Protocol so recovery is documented, not improvised.
Keys alone are not a plan—the EPP turns governance into steps your successors can follow.
Common Failure Modes
- Heirs receive words or devices with no practical procedure.
- Single-signer custody freezes when the key holder is unavailable.
- Trustees/executors have legal authority but no technical control path.
- No rehearsed or documented process exists for recovery.
What We Deliver
- Documented Estate Plan Protocol (EPP) aligned to your structure.
- Beneficiary and fiduciary readiness (education + optional rehearsals).
- Role clarity and continuity planning to prevent drift over time.
- Coordination support with your legal team where relevant.
Built for real-world events—incapacity, death, device loss, role turnover—when heirs and fiduciaries need an executable path, not guesswork.
Track Record & Client Voice
Zero Satoshis Lost
No loss events in our collaborative security program
Since 2016
Guidance across multiple market cycles
Global Client Base
Hundreds of families, individuals & entities
No unilateral control, clear procedures, survivable continuity.
"The biggest challenge I needed to overcome in getting comfortable with self-custody of Bitcoin was the security risk. The Bitcoin Adviser sorts that in one fell swoop. Having my own personal contact to boot puts icing on the cake!"
"Self custodying my BTC with TBA's services has allowed me to feel safe for my own retirement and my family's future. Pete and Andy are the most generous of people with their time and care, always accessible."
Reviewed by Peter Dunworth
Common Questions
Is this self-custody—and can you move my bitcoin without me?
What happens if I lose a device or a key?
Am I locked in? Can I leave or migrate later?
How do inheritance and trustees or executors work?
Do you make investment or portfolio decisions for me?
Where should I start?
Ready to Bring Your Bitcoin Under Collaborative Security?
Book a working session to align vault structure, signing policy, and inheritance documentation with your family and jurisdiction.