NFTs as Inheritable Assets

NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) represent ownership of unique digital assets — art, music, virtual real estate, gaming items, and domain names. Some NFTs hold significant financial value, while others carry sentimental importance.

Unlike physical art, NFTs live on the blockchain and are accessed through cryptocurrency wallets. Inheriting an NFT collection requires the same wallet access as inheriting cryptocurrency, plus knowledge of where the NFTs are stored and displayed.

As the NFT market matures, proper inheritance planning becomes essential for collectors with valuable or meaningful collections.

NFT-Specific Considerations

Platform Accounts: While NFTs live on the blockchain, they're often bought, sold, and displayed through platforms like OpenSea, Rarible, or Foundation. Your heirs need access to these platform accounts AND the underlying wallet.

Metadata and Storage: Many NFTs store their actual content (images, videos) on IPFS or centralized servers. If the hosting service goes offline, the NFT may still exist on-chain but the content could become inaccessible. Document where the underlying content is stored.

Royalty Streams: If you're an NFT creator receiving royalties on secondary sales, document these revenue streams so your heirs can continue to receive or manage them.

Virtual Real Estate: NFTs representing virtual land in metaverse platforms may require specific knowledge to manage, transfer, or monetize.

Planning for NFT Inheritance

  1. Inventory your NFTs — list every NFT across all wallets and chains
  2. Record the recovery route — directions to separately held recovery instructions and an authorised adviser
  3. Document platform accounts — OpenSea username, marketplace profiles
  4. Note any special instructions — rare NFTs that shouldn't be sold, community obligations, governance roles
  5. Consider the tax implications — NFTs may be subject to collectibles tax rates, which can be higher than standard capital gains
  6. Use ZeroLatch carefully for a delayed, scoped instruction package with another independent recovery path

For significant collections, consider consulting with an attorney experienced in digital asset estate planning to ensure your NFTs are properly addressed in your will.