What happens to cryptocurrency held on Coinbase when someone dies, and the estate process to claim it.
What happens to cryptocurrency held on Coinbase when someone dies, and the estate process to claim it.
There is no in-app beneficiary. The vital thing is to record that the crypto exists, because it can be lost forever if nobody knows about it.
A survivor uses Coinbase’s Executor Services process. You provide a certified death certificate, the grant of probate or letters of administration, your photo ID and a signed instruction. The crypto passes through the estate rather than to a named beneficiary.
Why is recording it so important?
If no one knows the crypto exists, or cannot prove the estate’s right to it, it can be permanently lost. A simple note that it exists is the single most useful step.
Last reviewed June 2026. Platform processes change, so please confirm on the Coinbase help page before acting. This is general information, not legal or financial advice.
No in-app beneficiary; the crypto passes through the estate. Use Coinbase's Executor Services process. Provide a certified death certificate, the grant of probate or letters of administration, ID and a signed instruction. Record that the crypto exists, or it can be lost for good.
