Bitcoin Estate Planning: What U.S. Bitcoiners Get Wrong
Security is global, but risk is jurisdictional. For U.S. families, Bitcoin isn't just a technical challenge—it's a legal and structural one. Traditional estate planning often fails to account for digital bearer assets, leaving heirs with a "private key puzzle" that no probate court can solve. We build a U.S. trust layer that bridges the gap between your Bitcoin keys and your legal fiduciaries. This page focuses on U.S.-specific considerations; for universal estate planning principles, see our Estate Planning & Inheritance page.
Quick Read
- Why traditional U.S. Wills and Trusts often fail digital bearer assets.
- How to coordinate with your U.S.-based lawyers and fiduciaries.
- The "Reality Check": Why "Not Your Keys" means "Not Your Heirs" without a plan.
The Gap in U.S. Estate Law
Probate & Bearer Assets
U.S. probate courts are designed for titled assets (houses, stocks, bank accounts). Bitcoin is a bearer asset. If your heirs don't have the keys, no court order in the world can "recover" your sats. We help you document the technical process for the legal fiduciaries.
Trust Integration
Many U.S. families use Revocable Living Trusts or ILITs. But how does a Trustee actually manage 2-of-3 multisig? We provide the "Technical Insert" that makes your legal documents functional for Bitcoin. Learn where U.S. trust plans break →
Living Failure
Most estate plans focus on death. But for Bitcoiners, medical or legal incapacity is a far greater risk. If you can't sign, your assets are frozen. Building for incapacity →
What U.S. Bitcoiners Get Wrong
"My lawyer has it covered"
Most estate attorneys are experts in law, not cryptography. Relying on a lawyer to "hold the keys" or "know what to do" is a massive single point of failure. We educate your professionals so they can support your heirs.
"It's in my IRA/401(k)"
Custodial Bitcoin products (ETFs, IRAs) have different inheritance paths than self-custody. We help families manage the transition from "paper Bitcoin" to "actual Bitcoin" security.
A Precision U.S. Trust Layer
We don't change the product for the U.S.—Bitcoin is global. Instead, we reframe the risk and coordinate the execution. Our collaborative security architecture ensures that your U.S.-based executors and trustees have the playbooks they need to succeed.
Working Alongside Your Team
We work with your existing U.S. lawyers, CPAs, and Trustees. We provide the "Bitcoin Estate Plan Protocol" (EPP)—a technical manual that accompanies your legal directives, ensuring generational continuity without crossing regulatory lines.
U.S. Estate Planning Deep-Dive Pages
For U.S. families building comprehensive Bitcoin estate plans, these resources address specific failure modes and technical integration points:
U.S. Bitcoin Trusts & Asset Protection
How U.S. trust structures (Revocable Living Trusts, ILITs) interface with Bitcoin multisig vaults. Technical inserts for legal documents.
U.S. Bitcoin Custody Under Incapacity
Building for medical or legal incapacity—ensuring authorized fiduciaries can execute transactions when you cannot sign.
U.S. Legal Authority vs Bitcoin Control
Bridging the gap between legal authority granted in Wills/Trusts and technical control of Bitcoin keys.
The "Smartest Person" Failure Mode
Why high intelligence often leads to Bitcoin custody failure. How complexity increases fragility.
Why Instructions Are Not A Plan
Dismantling the most common Bitcoin estate failure pattern. Why paper instructions often lead to asset loss.
Global context: These U.S.-specific resources complement the universal principles covered in our Estate Planning & Inheritance page. Both approaches integrate with Collaborative Security for comprehensive protection.
Protect Your U.S. Family Legacy
Don't leave your heirs guessing. Stress-test your plan with a discovery call to evaluate your current readiness.