Only 5% of over 55s surveyed by Compare the Market have included digital assets in their wills.
The survey of 2,000 UK adults revealed the majority have given no thought to who will inherit their digital legacy, from cryptocurrency and NFTs, to cloud-stored photos and social media.
Of those surveyed, 11% on average have a plan for who will inherit digital assets.
Younger people seem more prepared, with 21% of 18-24 year olds having a digital plan in place; but this figure falls to 5% among those in their mid-fifties and above.
Emily Barnett, life insurance expert at Compare the Market, said:
“We are living in a digital age, yet our approach to inheritance is still largely analogue in some areas…
“The digital ‘drafting gap’ we’re seeing, especially among over-55s, is important. If you don’t explicitly name your digital beneficiaries, you risk leaving your loved ones locked out of your most precious memories or unable to access online financial assets. ”
The research also found that almost half (47%) of Brits don’t believe they own ‘significant’ digital assets, a figure that rose to 62% among over-55s.
The Property (Digital Assets etc) Act 2025, which officially became law in December 2025, now recognises digital assets such as cryptocurrency and email accounts as personal property in the UK.
