Estate Planning

An NFT, or non-fungible tokens, is a type of digital asset that represents ownership or proof of authenticity of a unique item or piece of content. NFTs are stored on a blockchain, which is a decentralized, digital ledger that records transactions across a network of computers.

NFTs are unique in that they cannot be exchanged for other assets in a one-to-one manner like traditional currencies or commodities. They are often used to represent items such as artwork, collectibles, and virtual real estate.

Advantages of NFTs

NFTs (non-fungible tokens) are a specific type of asset held on the blockchain. Many NFTs are pieces of digital art, although there are other uses, such as real estate deeds and certificates of authenticity for real-world assets. The advantages to holding an NFT include the following:

• The blockchain makes it nearly impossible for assets to be stolen or forged.
• Ownership is easily verifiable, depending on which blockchain it’s held on.
• Legitimate transfer of NFTs is a simple, clear-cut process.
• Assets are non-fungible, meaning that they’re unique and are well-suited to represent individual items.

NFTs are often used for pieces of art. Just as a painting by Claude Monet has value, so too do artworks represented by NFTs. For example, a CryptoPunk NFT created by Larva Labs could be worth multiple millions of dollars. As with physical art, these NFTs can offer a way to transfer wealth from one generation to another.

Estate Planning Challenges With NFTs

NFTs have the same challenges as other assets that are stored on a blockchain. Heirs must be aware of the existence of the NFTs, know which blockchain the NFT is held on, and be able to access the NFT as an owner. None of these factors happen by chance. Preparation by the asset holder prior to their death is vital to ensure the orderly transfer of assets to heirs.

Estate planning, especially by those who hold sizeable assets, is vitally important. However, the ownership of NFTs or other blockchain assets makes consulting a qualified professional of utmost importance. Without planning, these assets could easily be lost forever.

Blockchain technology is a shared, decentralized ledger system that records certain transactions and assets. It’s typically used to store information about cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin. It consists of virtual “blocks”, which contain information about who owns a certain amount of crypto. These blocks are connected by hashes (the hash at the end of one block connects with the hash at the beginning of the next block). In this way, they form a “chain” of information that cannot be easily removed or altered.

As more and more people acquire assets that are represented using blockchain, estate planning has had to evolve to accommodate both the assets and the technology. As with any new technology, the laws regarding blockchain are lagging behind its use. That means that estate planning is especially important in cases where a substantial amount is held on a blockchain.

Estate Planning Difficulties With Blockchain

Having assets raises specific problems in regards to estate planning. Unlike other assets, which can be easily discovered and are often accessible with a death certificate, no such safeguards exist on the blockchain. Some other issues that complicate estate planning include:

• Heirs are unaware that assets exist (that is, they do not even know to look for them).
• Heirs know that the assets exist, but do not know where they’re held (are they on an exchange? In a wallet?)
• Heirs know the above information, but do not know the appropriate passcodes to access them (or do not know where the passcodes are securely stored).

Estate planning is vital for anyone who holds sizeable assets that they want to pass on to their heirs. However, in the case of blockchain assets, it’s of paramount importance that thorough estate planning, with an advisor knowledgeable about blockchain, be performed as soon as possible in order to ensure the transferability of wealth.