What Happens to Crypto When You Die: Key Statistics and Facts

Cryptocurrency does not disappear when its owner dies. The coins stay on the blockchain. What can disappear is the ability to reach them. Unlike a bank account, crypto held in a personal wallet has no branch to call and no beneficiary form. Access depends on private keys, and heirs can only use what they can find. This article gathers the main statistics and facts from six published sources. It covers lost Bitcoin estimates, planning gaps, wills, taxes, and the tools people use to pass on crypto. Key Statistics at a Glance Figures on lost crypto are estimates, not exact counts.