Robinhood crypto after a death: estates, beneficiaries and what’s excluded

The crypto exception

Robinhood lets customers name beneficiaries on individual brokerage accounts, but not for crypto. Robinhood says crypto “will be distributed as a part of your estate” (Robinhood, beneficiaries), and its transfer-on-death agreement says “Cryptocurrency offered through Robinhood Crypto LLC is not eligible for TOD Account registration” (TOD agreement).

So a beneficiary may receive the shares quickly while the crypto in the same app waits for the executor and the probate document.

United States

• The deceased’s full legal name, Social Security number, date of birth and date of death.
• A photo or copy of the death certificate, showing all four corners and the seal.
• Your name, contact details, date of birth and relationship to the deceased.
• Your government ID, front and back.

Then:

1. Submit the Estates form, linked from Robinhood’s Losing a loved one page. You don’t need to sign in.
2. An estates representative contacts you after the first review and tells you what else is needed for the crypto. Robinhood doesn’t publish a list, but expect to be asked for the court document that appoints the executor or administrator (letters testamentary or letters of administration) or a small-estate affidavit.

Robinhood asks you not to send everything at once: “Don’t send copies of wills, trusts, or other estate planning documents. If a specific document is required, we’ll request it after our initial review.”

United Kingdom

In the UK, Robinhood introduces customers to Bitstamp UK Ltd, which Robinhood owns, for crypto. Email [email protected], ask them to include any crypto held through Bitstamp UK, and send (Robinhood UK):

• Your unexpired driving licence (front and back) or passport photo page, plus your name, contact details and relationship to the deceased.
• The deceased’s full name, date of birth and the email address they used.
• “A color photo of their death certificate (we can’t accept a black and white photo or a scanned copy).”
• A certified copy of the grant of probate or letters of administration.
• A good time to call you, between 9:00 and 18:00 US Eastern time (13:00 to 22:00 in UK summer, 14:00 to 23:00 in winter).

European Union

Robinhood’s EU crypto agreement says the estate’s representative must notify Robinhood “in writing within a reasonable time period” (EU user agreement, section 31), but we couldn’t find a published EU estates address. Contact support through the app or robinhood.com and ask for the estates team.

What the estate receives, and when

Robinhood doesn’t publish whether crypto is transferred to an heir or sold, or how long it takes. Its brokerage agreement, which covers shares but not crypto, lets it close out an account after a death “without awaiting the appointment of a personal representative” and cancel open orders (Customer Agreement, section 17); the crypto agreement says nothing about death. Ask the estates team early how the crypto will be handled and for a statement of balances on the date of death (why it matters).

Good to know

• Robinhood Wallet is separate. The self-custody wallet app keeps the keys on the phone; the estates team can’t reach it. It needs the recovery phrase, or a backup the person made to iCloud or Google Drive.
• Old Bitstamp accounts. Robinhood bought Bitstamp. From 1 February 2027, US Bitstamp accounts can no longer deposit, buy or open positions, though holdings can still be viewed, sold and withdrawn (Robinhood). If the person had one, raise it with the estates team early.
• Contact Robinhood only through the app or robinhood.com. Robinhood warns against phone numbers found through a web search, and says it will never ask for a password, two-factor code or recovery phrase (Robinhood, scams).