What Happens to Your Coinbase Account When You Die
Quick Facts
Deadline
None
Difficulty
Moderate
Documents
Death cert + probate + ID
Step-by-Step Guide
Document your Coinbase email
Record the email address linked to your Coinbase account. Do NOT record your password here.
Estimated time: 2 min
List your holdings
Note which cryptocurrencies you hold and approximate values. Include any staking positions.
Estimated time: 10 min
Store recovery info securely
Ensure your executor knows your Coinbase email. They will use legal documents, not your password, to access the account.
Estimated time: 5 min
Executor contacts Coinbase
Executor submits a deceased account claim at help.coinbase.com with Death Certificate, probate docs, and photo ID.
Document Now Checklist
- Coinbase email
- List of crypto holdings
- Approximate total value
- Any staking positions
Tax and access note: Crypto receives a step-up in basis at death — get date-of-death valuations BEFORE selling anything. If the family cannot access the assets, professional supervised recovery is available through our partnership with The Crypto Accountant. Learn more →
Save this to your vault
When you document your accounts in Passed Plan, your family gets a personalized action plan — with only the guides that apply to them, in the right order, with your notes attached.
Start your vault — free for 30 daysLast verified: June 2026. Platform policies may change. Verify current procedures directly with Coinbase. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
Protect your Coinbase account — and all your others
Document your digital life in a zero-knowledge encrypted vault. 1,800+ platform guides. Dead Man's Switch. Everything your family needs.
Start your free trial →This is 1 of 1,800+ guides in Passed Plan. When you document your accounts, your family gets a personalized Family Action Guide with only the steps that apply to them — in the right order, with your notes.
Browse all 1,800+ guides →