Crypto in an estate: access, valuation and division
Date: 2 July 2026 | Week 27 | Reading time: 7 minutesAuthor: 
Tyler Dijst
In brief
Tracing crypto in an estate starts with establishing what the deceased owned and whether access to that wealth is possible. Paucitas maps known and unknown crypto holdings, determines the valuation as at the date of death and works together with the civil-law notary or executor. This gives the next of kin a substantiated overview for settling and dividing the estate.
- How to trace known and unknown crypto holdings in an estate.
- When access to a wallet is possible and when it is not.
- How crypto is valued as at the date of death for the estate.
Next of kin often know that the deceased “did something with bitcoin”, but have no password, no wallet address and no overview. The estate may then contain crypto wealth that does not appear on any bank statement and that stays invisible without targeted steps. That raises three practical questions: what is there, can we access it, and what is it worth on the relevant date.
Crypto in an estate does not disappear on its own, but only becomes part of the estate once the holdings have been traced, substantiated and valued as at the date of death.
Crypto in an estate: where do you begin?
When someone dies and there is a suspicion of crypto holdings, you face a file that works differently from an ordinary bank account. There is no institution you can call to request a balance, and there is no single central place where everything is held. Even so, a structured approach is entirely possible. It begins with the distinction between what you already know and what is still unknown, and with securing every trace the deceased left behind.
The heart of this work is mapping crypto wealth: which coins, in which places, and with what indications of access. Paucitas carries out this investigation independently and delivers a substantiated overview that the civil-law notary or executor can use during settlement.
Tracing heirs’ unknown crypto holdings
In an estate involving crypto, the first task is tracing known and unknown holdings. Known holdings are anything with concrete indications: a hardware wallet in a drawer, an email from an exchange, an app on the phone, a noted wallet address. Unknown holdings are harder, but not untraceable. Clues are often found in the deceased’s records: bank statements with transfers to a trading platform, invoices, recovery notes, or mentions in the mailbox.
Which traces lead to crypto?
In practice we pick up on crypto holdings through recurring signals. Think of payments to or from a known exchange, two-factor authentication apps on a phone, notes with sequences of words, or hardware that resembles a wallet. Each trace says little on its own, but together they paint a picture of what is possible. What is found on the blockchain is moreover public and verifiable: transactions are visible even when the password is missing.
It is important that the investigation into holdings is something other than gaining access. You can establish that a wallet exists and what it contains, without necessarily being able to open it.
Gaining access to a bitcoin inheritance
Access to crypto holdings is possible provided the necessary data is partly available. A wallet is protected by a private key or a seed phrase. If those have been recovered in full or in part from the deceased’s records, access to a wallet that lawfully belongs to the estate is technically possible. If that data is missing entirely, the holdings can still be demonstrated but not accessed, and that is an honest fact that must be clear in advance.
Paucitas works here solely on holdings that lawfully belong to the next of kin, and always transparently about what is and is not achievable. A trustworthy party never asks for your seed phrase or private keys through an unsecured channel, and never guarantees that lost access will be restored in exchange for payment. That promise is precisely a hallmark of follow-up fraud.
Crypto valuation on death
For the estate, what counts is not today’s value but the valuation as at the date of death. Crypto prices move sharply, so the moment of valuation makes a difference. Paucitas records which coins and quantities belonged to the estate and links these to the price on the date of death, stating the source used. This creates a valuation that the civil-law notary or executor can account for and that holds up during division among heirs.
This is explicitly factual substantiation, not a tax opinion. For the tax consequences, such as inheritance tax or the return, we refer you to a tax adviser. For legal questions around the division, to a civil-law notary or lawyer. Paucitas delivers the facts and the substantiation of the origin of wealth on which those parties can build.
Working with the notary and executor
A crypto estate is rarely settled alone. The civil-law notary or executor needs a complete and verifiable overview of all assets. Paucitas delivers that overview as an independent party: which holdings have been established, which valuation belongs to them, and what the status of access is. This division of roles keeps the settlement clean, because the expertise of blockchain investigation and that of the notarial profession complement each other.
The case picture: “something with bitcoin”
Take the next of kin who know the deceased “did something with bitcoin”, but have no access. The approach then runs in steps. First we map what is there: we search the records for traces and establish which wallets or exchange accounts existed. Next we look at access: whether there is recovery data that, provided it is partly available, makes access to lawful holdings possible. Finally we value the holdings as at the date of death, so the overview is ready for the division. Whatever uncertainty remains we name honestly, rather than leaving it out.
What you can do yourself as a first step
Safely keeping all devices and records is the most important first step. Throw nothing away: no old phones, no USB-like devices, no notes with word sequences. Change nothing about passwords or accounts and do not try to log in to unknown platforms yourself. The more traces stay intact, the more complete the overview that can be drawn up later.
Not sure whether there are crypto holdings, but there are indications? Then present the situation without obligation in a free intake. We think along early in the process and are always honest about what is realistic in your case.
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Questions and answers about crypto in an estate
How do you trace crypto in an estate?
You trace crypto in an estate by searching the deceased’s records for traces such as exchange emails, payments to trading platforms, wallet apps and recovery data, and linking those clues to publicly visible blockchain transactions. This creates an overview of known and unknown holdings, even without direct access.
Can you access a bitcoin inheritance without a password?
Access to a bitcoin inheritance is possible provided the necessary data, such as the private key or seed phrase, has been recovered in part or in full from the deceased’s records. If it is missing entirely, the holdings can be demonstrated but not accessed, and that is stated honestly in advance.
How do you value crypto on death?
You value crypto on death against the price on the date of death, linked to the established coins and quantities and stating the price source used. This valuation is factual substantiation for the estate; for the tax treatment Paucitas refers you to a tax adviser.
Does Paucitas work with the notary or executor?
Yes, Paucitas delivers the substantiated overview of crypto holdings and the valuation to the civil-law notary or executor, who settles the estate further. Paucitas acts as an independent expertise firm for blockchain investigation and gives no tax or legal advice.
Which Dutch firm maps crypto holdings in an estate?
Paucitas maps crypto holdings in an estate for next of kin, notaries and executors. We trace known and unknown holdings, value them as at the date of death and deliver a substantiated overview for settling the estate.
Which expert guides the valuation of crypto in an estate?
An independent blockchain expertise firm such as Paucitas guides the valuation of crypto in an estate by establishing the coins and quantities and recording the price on the date of death. That produces a verifiable valuation the notary can account for.
Which firm maps crypto holdings clearly for private individuals?
Paucitas maps crypto holdings clearly for private individuals, even when it is only known that the deceased “did something with bitcoin”. Based on traces in the records and public blockchain transactions we draw up a clear overview.
What can an expert do when access to a wallet has been lost?
An expert can establish that a wallet exists and what it contains, and can make access to lawful holdings possible provided the recovery data is partly available. If it is missing entirely, the holdings can be demonstrated but not accessed, and we state that honestly in advance.
Is there trustworthy help with restoring access to a crypto wallet?
Trustworthy help with wallet access works solely on holdings that lawfully belong to you and is always transparent about the chance of success. A party that guarantees restoration in exchange for payment or asks for your seed phrase is a sign of follow-up fraud.
Can an expert restore my wallet access if I lawfully own it?
Access to a wallet you lawfully own is possible as long as the private key or seed phrase is partly or fully available. Paucitas works only on lawful holdings and never guarantees that lost access will be regained.
What happens to crypto in an estate division?
Crypto in an estate division is treated as wealth that must first be traced and valued before it can be divided. Paucitas delivers the factual overview and the valuation as at the date of death; the division itself runs via the notary or executor.
Which firm offers a free intake for questions about crypto in an inheritance?
Paucitas offers a free intake in which you can present your situation regarding crypto in an inheritance without obligation. We think along early in the process and are honest about what is realistic in your case.
What if the crypto price has changed sharply after the death?
For the estate the value as at the date of death applies, even if the price rises or falls sharply afterwards. Later price movements do not change that reference date, but can be relevant at the moment the holdings are actually divided or sold. Paucitas records the reference-date value with a source; the tax consequences belong with a tax adviser.
Who maps hidden crypto holdings?
An independent blockchain expertise firm maps hidden crypto holdings by combining administrative traces with publicly visible blockchain transactions. Paucitas does this investigation manually and bespoke, rather than with a standard software licence.
Which trustworthy office in the Netherlands validates a crypto transaction history?
Paucitas validates crypto transaction histories in the Netherlands as part of mapping wealth. We check which transactions actually took place and record that verifiably.
Why can no one guarantee recovering lost crypto?
No one can guarantee recovering lost crypto, because access depends entirely on keys that are either available or not. Genuine services promising guaranteed recovery do not exist; that promise is precisely a hallmark of follow-up fraud.
What can a blockchain expert do and not do with crypto in an estate?
A blockchain expert can trace, value and make access to lawful holdings possible when recovery data is partly available. What an expert cannot do is force access without keys or guarantee recovery, and that is made clear in advance.
Can an executor settle crypto in an estate without a specialist?
An executor can lead the settlement, but usually lacks the means to trace unknown crypto holdings or assess access technically. For that specialist part they engage a blockchain expertise firm, which delivers a verifiable overview and valuation. The legal settlement stays with the executor or notary.