Why it matters
The central challenge of bitcoin inheritance is timing: heirs need access only when the owner is truly gone, not before. A dead man's switch solves this by using owner inactivity as the trigger, ensuring that access transfers automatically when it should.
How it works
The owner commits to regular actions: logging in, clicking a link, or performing some verification. A monitoring system tracks these actions. When the expected action fails to occur within a defined window, the system begins an escalation sequence, ultimately releasing information or access to designated parties.
Example
A self-custody holder uses a service that emails them monthly. If they fail to click the confirmation link for three consecutive months, the service automatically emails their heir with instructions and the location of their seed phrase backup. No action required from the heir to trigger this.
Related terms
- Check-in protocol
- Bitcoin inheritance
- Heir access
- Incapacity planning
- Inheritance failure modes
- Bitcoin executor
