What Happens to Your Nostr Protocol Account When You Die
Quick Facts
Private key
Required for any access
Relays
No central deletion possible
Zaps
Lightning sats may be present
Step-by-Step Guide
Secure the private key (nsec)
The Nostr private key (nsec) is the ONLY way to access the account. Without it, the account is permanently inaccessible. Family must have it.
Claim any Lightning sats
Check for Bitcoin Lightning sats received via zaps. These require the connected Lightning wallet to claim.
No central deletion possible
Nostr has no central authority — posts live on relays and cannot be fully deleted. The private key controls the identity.
Document Now Checklist
- Private key (nsec) location
- Public key (npub)
- Connected Lightning wallet
- Relays used
Tax and access note: Crypto receives a step-up in basis at death — get date-of-death valuations BEFORE selling anything. If the family cannot access the assets, professional supervised recovery is available through our partnership with The Crypto Accountant. Learn more →
Save this to your vault
When you document your accounts in Passed Plan, your family gets a personalized action plan — with only the guides that apply to them, in the right order, with your notes attached.
Start your vault — free for 30 daysLast verified: June 2026. Platform policies may change. Verify current procedures directly with Nostr Protocol. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
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