How many online accounts have you created over your digital life? Most people have between 50 and 200. How many do you still know exist? A complete digital inventory is the foundation of good digital estate planning.
What Is a Digital Asset?
A digital asset is anything of value that exists in digital form. This definition is broader than most people realize:
Digital financial assets
- Online bank accounts
- Cryptocurrency wallets (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.)
- Trading accounts (stocks, ETFs)
- PayPal, Wise, Revolut, and similar services
- Convertible loyalty points (miles, cashback)
- Digital artworks (NFTs)
Professional and creative assets
- Domain names (which have market value)
- Websites and blogs with their content
- Social media accounts with an audience
- Digital intellectual property (software, eBooks, online courses)
- Passive online income (affiliate marketing, AdSense revenue)
Sentimental assets
- Photo libraries (iCloud, Google Photos, Flickr)
- Purchased music collections (iTunes, Amazon Music)
- Purchased digital films and books
- Email archives and important conversations
- Personal journals and private blogs
Active accounts and subscriptions
- Streaming services (Netflix, Spotify, Disney+)
- Video games with valuable items or characters
- Perpetual-license software
- Professional subscriptions (Adobe, Microsoft 365)
The Method for Creating Your Inventory
Step 1: Tour Your Applications
Start with your password manager (if you have one). If not, review your emails to identify all services you've signed up for. Search your emails for terms like "welcome," "registration," "confirmation," "subscription."
Step 2: Digital Bank Statement Review
Examine your bank and credit card statements to identify automatic charges linked to digital services. Each charge corresponds to an active account to catalog.
Step 3: Applications on Your Devices
Review all applications installed on your phone, tablet, and computer. Each app may hide an account with data or value.
Step 4: Domains and Hosting Inventory
If you own domain names or websites, note the registrars, hosting providers, and expiration dates. These assets can lose all value if not renewed.
Step 5: Cryptocurrencies and NFTs
For each crypto wallet, note the public addresses, wallet type (software, hardware, exchange), and most importantly, securely store the recovery phrase (seed phrase). Without this phrase, the funds are unrecoverable.
Structuring Your Inventory
For each asset, note:
- Name and type: identification of the service or asset
- Approximate value: financial or sentimental
- Access: how to access it (link, username, code)
- Instructions: what to do with this asset (keep, sell, close, transfer)
- Recipient: who should receive this asset
How to Secure and Transmit This Inventory
An unsecured inventory is a risk in itself. Several options are available:
Local encryption: an encrypted document on your computer with a strong password. But who will know this password after your death?
Notary: physical deposit with a notary with delivery instructions. Practical but inflexible.
EchoPass (recommended): store your inventory as an encrypted message using XChaCha20-Poly1305. If you stop logging in for the period you defined, the inventory is automatically sent to your designated heirs. You can update it at any time.
The Often-Overlooked Value of Digital Assets
Studies suggest the average individual's digital assets are worth more than you might expect. This value notably includes cryptocurrencies, web domains, digital copyrights, and consumer data (loyalty points, cashback).
Don't let this value disappear into the digital void.
Start preparing your inventory on EchoPass and secure your digital legacy.