Kresus, a provider of self-custody cryptocurrency wallets, has launched Kresus Inheritance, a service designed to help users plan the succession of their digital assets. The feature, available within the Kresus wallet for an annual fee of $99.99, allows users to designate a beneficiary who can access the wallet's assets only after a predefined period of account inactivity.
According to the company, the service does not require users to share private keys or rely on complex recovery procedures. Private keys remain with the user during their lifetime, and Kresus does not take custody of customer funds. This approach aims to address a key pain point in the digital asset space: the lack of estate planning tools commonly available in traditional finance.
Self-custody wallets give users direct control over their assets, but the company noted that beneficiary designations, inheritance mechanisms, and recovery processes remain limited in the crypto ecosystem. Existing alternatives often require users to share or store sensitive information, which can introduce additional security risks.
The launch comes amid growing awareness of the need for digital asset inheritance planning. Kresus cited a Harris Poll study estimating that 55 million U.S. adults, or about 21% of the population, own cryptocurrency. The company also referenced a study by the Cremation Institute indicating that many crypto investors are concerned about what will happen to their digital assets after death.
Kresus Inheritance expands the company's existing wallet and infrastructure offerings, which the company says serve millions of self-custody wallet users through the Kresus Wallet, mini-apps, and enterprise solutions. The new service is part of a broader effort to transform the wallet from a simple storage tool into a platform with wealth management features.
The move reflects a growing trend in the crypto industry to bridge the gap between digital asset ownership and traditional financial planning. As more investors accumulate significant crypto holdings, the demand for secure, user-friendly inheritance solutions is likely to increase.
For context, other platforms have also been exploring similar features. For example, WhiteBIT launched TradeFi for multi-asset crypto futures trading, and Nexo launched a crypto card in Argentina, both signaling a broader push toward integrating crypto with traditional financial services.
Kresus Inheritance is now available to all Kresus wallet users. The company said the service is designed to provide peace of mind for investors who want to ensure their digital assets are passed on according to their wishes, without compromising security during their lifetime.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
