Kresus launches crypto inheritance service for self-custody wallet users

Kresus, a self-custody cryptocurrency wallet provider, has announced the launch of Kresus Inheritance, a service that allows users to create a succession plan for their digital asset holdings.

According to the company, the service does not require users to share private keys or use complex recovery procedures.

While self-custody gives users direct control over their digital assets, the company said many of the estate planning tools commonly available in traditional finance, such as beneficiary designations, inheritance mechanisms, and recovery processes, remain limited in the digital asset space.

Kresus said existing alternatives often require users to share or store sensitive information, which can introduce additional security risks.

Kresus Inheritance is available within the Kresus wallet for an annual fee of $99.99. The service allows users to designate a beneficiary who can access their digital assets only after a predefined period of account inactivity.

According to the company, private keys are not shared during the process, users retain control of their assets while active, and Kresus does not take custody of customer funds.

Citing a Harris Poll study, Kresus said an estimated 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 said the new service is intended to address that issue by providing a built-in inheritance planning feature for digital assets.

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.

According to Kresus, the new service is part of its broader effort to expand the wallet beyond asset storage by adding wealth management features, including digital asset inheritance planning.