GlossaryIntermediate
Dead Man's Switch
A mechanism that releases pre-arranged access or instructions to designated heirs if a holder stops periodically checking in.
A dead man's switch is a mechanism that requires periodic check-ins from a crypto holder; if those check-ins stop for long enough, the mechanism automatically releases pre-arranged access or instructions to designated heirs.
This is one of several approaches used for crypto inheritance planning, alongside multisig and secret-sharing designs — see Kaavon's "Planning for What Happens to Your Crypto After You're Gone" guide for how it compares to the alternatives.
Examples
- A time-locked dead man's switch built with Bitcoin Script can release access automatically if its holder doesn't periodically reset the timer.
- A dead man's switch removes the need for an heir to already know how to access a wallet before the holder's death, as long as the check-in requirement genuinely stops.