Bitcoin Governance & Collaborative Security for Intergenerational Wealth
Led by Peter Dunworth, a world-leading authority on Bitcoin for family offices. For over 10 years, Peter has run Networth Advisers—a multi-family office that has been investing in and securing Bitcoin for clients since 2016. This isn't theoretical expertise; it's proven experience operating a family office that manages Bitcoin at scale.
We don’t “sell custody.” We build a governance-controlled Bitcoin sleeve—with documented controls, clear authorization workflows, and an Estate Plan Protocol that makes Bitcoin recoverable and transferable under pressure.
World-Leading Authority on Bitcoin for Family Offices
Family offices don't fail because they "don't understand Bitcoin." They fail because responsibility becomes ambiguous when people change, documents lag, or a key decision is required under stress. Our work is designed to keep the system coherent across decades.
Led by Peter Dunworth
The Risk of Fiduciary Paralysis
A Trustee may be legally empowered by a court or trust deed to manage Bitcoin, but if they cannot produce the technical keys, that legal authority is effectively a piece of paper. We bridge the gap between Legal Authority and Technical Control, ensuring fiduciaries can execute their duties without needing to become cryptographic experts.
In the traditional financial system, a court order is a master key. If a judge orders a bank to freeze an account or transfer funds, the bank complies. In the Bitcoin system, there is no bank. A court can order a Trustee to move Bitcoin, but if the Trustee cannot produce the technical keys, the court order is effectively a piece of paper.
This gap between Legal Authority (having the right to move assets) and Technical Control (having the keys to do so) is the #1 reason Bitcoin is lost during generational handovers. For U.S. family offices, this "private key puzzle" is a primary concern. Learn why court orders can't "reset" a blockchain →
Solving for Living Failure
Family offices are often focused on death, but Incapacity (stroke, dementia, detention) is a more common "living failure" mode for Bitcoin. Traditional Power of Attorney (PoA) does not solve technical access. We architect systems that survive the principal's inability to sign, allowing authorized Trustees to maintain liquidity and security during a medical or legal crisis.
The Expert-Dependent Trap
Many family offices rely on one "tech-savvy" family member. If that person is incapacitated, the office enters Fiduciary Paralysis. High intelligence often leads to Bitcoin custody failure—complexity increases fragility. Understand the danger of the "Genius Principal" who has built a system only they can use →
Collaborative Security as a Governance System
A family office needs a system where no individual can unilaterally move Bitcoin, where approvals match your governance norms, and where recovery is possible even if key people are unavailable.
- Governance alignment. Approvals, quorums, and thresholds can mirror your existing internal controls.
- Authorization workflow. Clear instruction pathways for signing events, including identity verification and written authorization where appropriate.
- Change control. Address changes and key updates follow documented steps—designed to reduce operational ambiguity.
- Continuity planning. Your Estate Plan Protocol ensures trustees/executors aren't left with a "private key puzzle."
- Professional liaison. Adviser-led co-signing means fiduciaries are never alone in recovery events—providing the safety net that allows trustees to fulfill their duty of care.
Generational Bitcoin Playbook
Use the playbook to align principals, trustees, and advisors before the working session. It distills our documentation-first approach to governance-controlled Bitcoin security.
What You Leave With
Family offices rarely need “more information.” They need a decision-ready governance package that can be reviewed, approved, executed, and maintained over time.
Clear objectives, role responsibilities, and governance gates—so Bitcoin is managed as a real sleeve, not an orphaned asset.
Phasing approach, operational sequencing, and stakeholder alignment—built to reduce timing stress and internal friction.
Quorum approvals, signing workflow, change-control, and verification steps—documented so responsibility remains unambiguous.
Bitcoin inheritance continuity: trustees/executors get an actionable playbook, not a technical puzzle.
A step-by-step signing manual for non-technical fiduciaries. Demonstrates to the Investment Committee that they are buying a repeatable system, not just a one-time setup. Unlike paper instructions that fail under stress, these are functional protocols with professional support. Learn why instructions alone aren't enough →
Tailored Solutions for Family Offices
Each service is designed to integrate with your governance structure, decision workflows, and existing advisory ecosystem—without introducing avoidable operational ambiguity.
Collaborative Security
Multi-signature vault design that eliminates single points of failure and enables policy-based approvals, documented roles, and recoverability.
Learn more →Estate Planning & Inheritance
Documented continuity plans that coordinate with trusts, wills, and family governance—so heirs and fiduciaries can execute confidently when it matters.
Learn more →Education & Advisory
Training for principals, trustees, and office executives. Reduce trustee paralysis and ensure shared understanding across generations.
Learn more →Operational Support
Ongoing reviews, optional rehearsals, and control updates as stakeholders change. You’re not left maintaining the system alone.
Learn more →Institutional Thinking Without Institutional Baggage
Bitcoin adoption fails when risk is misunderstood or controls are undocumented. We reduce risk by turning Bitcoin into a governed, auditable system.
Fiduciary & Technical Paralysis
Mitigation: Bridge the gap between legal authority and technical control. Collaborative security ensures Trustees can execute their duties without becoming cryptographic experts. Addresses the "Expert-Dependent Trap" where one tech-savvy family member becomes a single point of failure. Learn about the expert-dependent risk →
Governance Drift
Mitigation: Clear ownership, control maps, and periodic reviews so your system remains coherent as staff, trustees, and family members change.
Trustee / Executor Paralysis
Mitigation: Estate Plan Protocol, education, and rehearsals—so fiduciaries can act with confidence and clarity. Systems survive incapacity (stroke, dementia, detention), not just death. Power of Attorney doesn't solve technical access—we architect for "living failure" modes. Learn about incapacity planning →
Coercion & Safety Scenarios
Mitigation: Collaborative controls reduce unilateral movement under duress, supported by documented procedures and verification steps.
US-based office? We address the legal/technical gap between authority and control. Explore our Control Doctrine deep-dives: Legal Authority vs. Control →, Smartest Person Failure Mode →, Custody Under Incapacity →, Why Instructions Are Not a Plan →
Engagement Model
We run a working process designed for decision-makers: align stakeholders, document controls, implement collaborative security, and maintain continuity.
1) Discovery & Alignment
Stakeholders, goals, current custody state, decision workflow, and risk posture—so implementation matches your governance model.
2) Control Model Design
Define roles, quorums, and approval thresholds. Establish change-control and verification steps for signing events.
3) Collaborative Security Setup
Implement multi-signature vaults and operational procedures aligned to your governance rules.
4) Estate Plan Protocol
Document inheritance instructions and contingency pathways so fiduciaries aren’t blocked by technical uncertainty.
5) Education & Readiness
Train principals, trustees, and next-gen participants to ensure shared understanding and practical capability.
6) Ongoing Support
Periodic reviews, optional rehearsals, and updates as your family office evolves—designed to prevent governance drift.
Family Office Outcomes
"Peter rebuilt our governance so Bitcoin isn’t an orphaned asset. Trustees know their steps, heirs know the recovery drill, and the vault is reviewed regularly."
"The estate protocol let us brief counsel, accountants, and beneficiaries with clarity. The transition to collaborative security was structured and calm."
"We needed a governance-controlled system, not a shiny product. The documentation, controls, and support were exactly what our IC required."
Common Family Office Questions
Is this “custody” or advisory?
How do you prevent one person from becoming the point of failure?
What happens if a trustee/executor needs to act during incapacity or death?
Do you support US and other jurisdictions?
What if our Trustee doesn't know how to use a hardware wallet?
Schedule a Working Session with Peter
Use this session to align your principals, trustees, and advisors before implementation. Review the Generational Bitcoin Playbook and note stakeholders, governance expectations, and your current custody setup.
Book with Peter Dunworth
Questions? Email us to discuss your family office's specific needs.
Email: peter@thebitcoinadviser.com