How to claim a Coinbase account after someone dies
Crypto held on Coinbase can be claimed by the executor with the right documents. You don't need the person's password, and you shouldn't try to sign in as them.
First, find out if there's an account
Look for emails from Coinbase, the Coinbase app on their phone, or payments to or from Coinbase on their bank statements. If you think there's an account but can't be sure, you can still contact Coinbase as the executor.
What you'll need
- the death certificate
- the grant of probate, or letters of administration if there was no will
- photo ID for each person named on the grant
- a signed letter telling Coinbase what to do with the assets, for example where to transfer them
How the claim works
- Sign in to your own Coinbase account, or create one.
- In Coinbase Help, search for "claim a decedent's account" to find the executor form.
- Upload the documents above and follow Coinbase's verification steps.
- Coinbase confirms the balance and transfers the assets as you've instructed.
Check Coinbase's own help page for the latest steps before you start, as the process can change.
Don't sign in as them. Even if you know their password and have their phone for the two-factor code, use Coinbase's executor process. Signing in as someone who has died can break the exchange's terms, freeze the account and cause problems with the estate.
Record the value for Inheritance Tax
Ask Coinbase for a statement showing the balance on the date of death, or take the value from the account history. HMRC needs the value in pounds on that date, and you should keep a record of where the figure came from. See Does crypto count for Inheritance Tax?
Found other accounts or wallets?
Other exchanges such as Kraken and Binance have similar processes. Crypto in a personal wallet works differently: you'll need the recovery phrase. Our executor checklist covers both.
Dealing with an estate now?
The Executor Kit walks you through every step in this guide: checklists of where to look, a list of what you find, prices on the date of death for HMRC, and a claim letter for each exchange, filled in for you. £39.
See the Executor KitMake a plan your family can follow
The free WalletLegacy planner lists every wallet and exchange account you hold, shows it in pounds, and records where each recovery phrase is kept, without ever asking for the words.
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This guide is general information for executors in England and Wales, not legal advice. WalletLegacy is not connected to Coinbase. Check Coinbase's help centre for its current process.