Crypto Inheritance Update: December 2025
A newsletter for Vault12’s customers on regs, the industry, and crypto inheritance management.
Highlights:
There’s a new season of Amazon Prime’s Fallout and this season we will see inside Vault 12. To celebrate, as we are all superfans, here’s a promo code: FALLOUT26.
As we head into 2026, the mantra is going to be ‘Prepare for the future, the crypto market is opening’, but first let’s take a look at what’s been happening.
Wishing all our customers and partners a very Happy New Year.
United States
After great first half momentum, the US Government shutdown slowed the pace of progress, however once the government got back to work, there is a renewed vigour. All signs are pointing to the Market Structure Bill to be presented, early next 2026
The following updates relate more to the overall Market, but they are important as they lay the groundwork for Vault12 to partner with financial institutions in the future. Of particular note is that the person at the SEC with whom Vault12 has been working, he was running the Crypto Task Force, is now the newly sworn-in commissioner of the CFTC. With a possible switch in roles between the agencies, we hope the clarity we need to move forward is now coming from the dream team.
SEC Crypto Task Force spotlights “financial surveillance vs privacy.”
The SEC published the agenda/panelists and then held the roundtable; Chair Atkins framed the policy tension as enabling modern finance without surrendering privacy, while also referencing Bank Secrecy Act/illicit-finance imperatives. Why it matters: expect this theme to influence how regulators talk about privacy-preserving tech, compliance design, and “who can see what” in tokenized rails.
Further reading: SEC agenda + Atkins remarks.
SEC Chair Atkins “Project Crypto” framing (policy direction-setting).
In remarks explicitly labeled “Project Crypto,” Atkins described a push toward a clearer framework for applying federal securities laws to crypto assets/transactions. Why it matters: it’s a narrative anchor for how SEC leadership is justifying near-term staff moves (market structure, custody, tokenization).
Further reading: Atkins speech.
CFTC pushes regulated-market expansion: spot + tokenized collateral pilot.
CFTC Acting Chair Pham announced “first-ever listed spot crypto trading” on CFTC-registered futures exchanges, and then launched a digital assets pilot program allowing certain digital assets (explicitly including BTC, ETH, USDC) as collateral in derivatives markets, alongside tokenized collateral guidance. Why it matters:the CFTC is explicitly positioning itself as the “safe onshore alternative” for both spot-ish and collateral innovation.
Further reading: CFTC releases.
CFTC withdraws “outdated” digital-assets guidance around “actual delivery.”
The CFTC announced it is withdrawing prior guidance on “actual delivery” of virtual currencies, citing substantial market developments. Why it matters: reduces legacy interpretive clutter and suggests a reset toward new FAQs/guidance aligned with current market plumbing.
Further reading: CFTC release.
Michael Selig sworn in as CFTC Chairman.
The CFTC announced Selig was sworn in after Senate confirmation (Dec 18). Why it matters: leadership changes can alter enforcement posture, pilot programs, and the agency’s leverage in market-structure negotiations with Congress/SEC.
Further reading: CFTC release.
United Kingdom
Overall tremendous progress in the UK even if the wrong kind of snow is on the line at the FCA ( IFYYK). One hopes that 2026 may see a single rulebook for the US and UK as far as crypto is concerned, however a lot more work needed.
UK government (HMT) pushes “new crypto rules” and formally advances the FSMA cryptoassets regulations.
HMT announced the new regime to bring cryptoasset firms into FCA-style regulation (with the government messaging this as pro-growth + consumer-protection). The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) Regulations 2025 were laid in Parliament the same week. Why it matters: this is the clearest “UK perimeter expansion” step under the Starmer-era economic agenda—firms should prepare for authorization-style expectations (disclosure, market integrity, etc.).
Further reading: GOV.UK announcement + SI record.
FCA launches major crypto regime consultations (trading platforms, intermediaries, market abuse, admissions/disclosures).
The FCA press release summarizes a package covering: admissions/disclosures, market abuse, trading platforms, and intermediaries—explicitly aligned to the new government legislation. Why it matters: the UK is now getting into the detail-layer of how exchanges/venues and brokers behave—this will shape listing standards, surveillance expectations, and conduct rules.
Further reading: FCA press release + consultation papers.
FCA makes “stablecoin payments” a 2026 priority; sandbox support highlighted.
The FCA stated it will open its regulatory sandbox to enable firms to experiment with stablecoin issuance and positioned UK-issued stablecoins as a payments modernization lever. Why it matters: stablecoins are being treated as payments infrastructure (not just trading chips), which raises the profile of reserve composition, redemption, operational resilience, and consumer protections.
Further reading: FCA press release.
Bank of England consults on a regime for sterling-denominated systemic stablecoins (with reserve composition parameters).
The BoE launched consultation materials on regulating systemic stablecoins (including proposed reserve-asset composition and related safeguards). Why it matters: the BoE is drawing a line between “systemic payments stablecoins” (BoE-level oversight) and the broader FCA crypto perimeter—important for issuers, wallets, and payment integrators.
Further reading: BoE consultation page + coverage.
Let us know if you have a favourite exchange who should power inheritance for their customers using Vault12 (for less than a dollar a day). Don’t forget to send a message to your crypto platform provider, recommending Vault12.
*NEW* Promo Codes for Vault12 Guard
The promo codes for iOS are good for a 1 year subscription at no cost, then will revert to standard price for the Inheritance plan. iOS codes can be redeemed in the Apple App Store.
The promo codes for Android are good for 90 days subscription at no cost, then will revert to standard price for the Inheritance plan. Android codes are redeemed when selecting and paying for the Inheritance plan in the app.
See instructions for how to redeem here.
Code: NL0525
iOS: https://apps.apple.com/redeem?ctx=offercodes&id=1451596986&code=NL0525
Android: Enter code NL0525 when you select the Inheritance plan
| Vault12 Guard iOS | Vault12 Guard Android
Panels & Podcasts:
Digital Commonwealth Summit: How the shift in US policy and regulation is reshaping Digital Assets
Genzio Podcast: Crypto Inheritance and Quantum safe encryption
Vault12 Guard Product Update
2025 Recap
Industry Open Source
December 2025 - Version 2.7.5
November 2025 - Versions 2.7.3 and 2.7.4
The Vault12 Engineering team released a new plugin for the cross-platform development environment, Capacitor, that gives app developers the ability to create quantum-safe data storage using Shamir’s Secret Sharing, the plugin is tried and tested and has been used within Vault12 Guard for several years. Learn more.
Vault12 Guard now supports the new Credential Exchange Protocol (CXP) that has just launched on Apple iPhones. Now fill your Vault with passwords from Apple Password or other password managers on iOS 26 and macOS 26. Secrets can be imported directly into your Vault, and restored back to your password manager if your device is lost or your account locked. Back up your passwords today.
Faster, smoother performance with fresh optimisations and bug fixes.
All product updates | Release Notes | Vault12 Guard iOS | Vault12 Guard Android
New to Crypto Inheritance? Start here.
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I’m now a producer for an upcoming movie, “The Bitcoin Executor” - it tells the story of an economics professor named Ken who becomes the executor of a will for Dr. Dean Sinautra, a friend and colleague who has mysteriously disappeared.
Although philosophically opposed, Ken takes on the task of personally delivering a set of Bitcoin hardware wallets to Dean’s chosen heirs. In the process Ken attempts to find clues that could solve the mystery of Dean’s disappearance. The discoveries made along the way force him to question the things he thought he knew so well.
Bonus for Our Loyal Subscribers
If you’re on iOS, you can snag a free year. On Android? 90 days free. Promo codes have been flying around in our recent podcasts and panels, but here’s one just for you, dear reader: NL0525 – grab it now with our guide: “How to Claim Your Vault12 Guard Promo Codes for iOS and Android”.
Brillaint breakdown of the regulatory landscape. The convergence between SEC and CFTC oversight mechanisms could finally address the 'custody gap' that's been plaguing estate planning for years. I helped a family last year navigate this exact mess when thier dad's hardware wallet became inaccessible after he passed. If the 'actual delivery' framework gets clarified in 2026, we might finally see traditional estate attorneys willing to touch crypto assets without freaking out.