Deadhand Protocol
Deadhand Protocol provides a cryptographic fail-safe system that automatically transfers self-custodied cryptocurrency to designated family members after the owner's death or incapacitation. The platform uses Shamir's Secret Sharing to split an emergency access key into three shards—one held by the user, one by family, and one guarded by Deadhand—requiring only two shards for full recovery. If the user stops periodic check-ins, Deadhand releases its shard to the family, enabling them to unlock the inherited assets without technical expertise.
- Blockchain & Cryptocurrency
- Financial Technology
- Web3 & NFTs
- Cybersecurity
- Software Only
- Artificial Intelligence
- Clean Technology
Funding
Founders
Founder details are not available yet.
Product
Problem
Self-custodied cryptocurrency is often unrecoverable after the owner dies, leaving families without access to digital assets they don't know exist or cannot unlock. Traditional estate planning burdens grieving relatives with locating accounts and navigating complex financial processes, compounding their loss with financial uncertainty.
Solution
Deadhand provides a fail-safe system that automatically transfers crypto assets to designated family members after the owner's death or incapacitation. The platform splits a recovery key using Shamir's Secret Sharing into three shards: one held by the user, one by the family, and one guarded by Deadhand. Users maintain full control and can recover their keys offline at any time without relying on the service. If the user stops checking in, Deadhand releases its shard to the family, enabling them to combine the two remaining pieces and unlock the assets they were meant to inherit.
Target Audience
The primary audience is tech-savvy cryptocurrency holders who self-custody their assets and want to ensure their family can inherit those assets without requiring technical expertise or navigating traditional estate processes.
Features
- Shamir's Secret Sharing splits emergency access into three shards, with two required for full recovery and one revealing zero information
- User-controlled recovery is available offline at any time, without needing Deadhand's participation
- Automatic shard release to family members triggers when the user stops periodic check-ins
- Industry-standard cryptographic protocol provides mathematically secure key distribution
- Simple custody model: user keeps a shard, family holds another, and Deadhand guards the third as a safety net