Only if the family has what the owner had. Coinbase Wallet (also shown as Base App) is a self-custody wallet. It is controlled by a 12-word recovery phrase, and Coinbase says it "will never have access to this recovery phrase." With the phrase, or with a cloud backup and its password, the wallet can be restored. Without them, Coinbase can't open it, even for an executor with court papers.
The name causes confusion. In 2025 and 2026 the app was called Base App for a while, and some Coinbase pages still say "Base App, formerly Coinbase Wallet." As of November 2026, the App Store listing says Coinbase Wallet. This article means the self-custody app under either name.
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Coinbase Wallet vs a Coinbase account
This is the most important question for a family.
| What you found | What it is | Route |
|---|---|---|
| Coinbase app login, statements, tax forms from Coinbase, bank transfers to Coinbase | Coinbase exchange account | Coinbase's deceased-customer claim; see Coinbase account after death |
| Coinbase Wallet or Base App on the phone, a 12-word phrase, a wallet address | Self-custody wallet | The recovery phrase or cloud backup, described below |
| Both | Two separate things | Handle each on its own route |
Coinbase's help page for deceased family members describes how an executor can access a Coinbase account. That process covers exchange accounts. It doesn't reach the self-custody wallet, because Coinbase doesn't hold its keys.
What Coinbase can and can't do after a death
For the wallet app, Coinbase can't recover, reset or transfer anything. Coinbase says it never has access to the recovery phrase. There is no deceased-user process for the wallet, and as of November 2026 Coinbase doesn't publish inheritance guidance for it.
What the family needs
| Item | Why it matters | Where it might be |
|---|---|---|
| Recovery phrase (12 words) | Restores the wallet on any phone | Paper or metal backup in a safe, bank box, with the will, or with a trusted person |
| Phone plus screen lock and any app passcode | Opens the wallet already on the phone | The owner's phone; codes in notes or a letter of instruction |
| Cloud account plus backup password | Restores a cloud backup | The owner's iCloud or Google Drive; the backup password stored separately |
| List of addresses and networks | Shows what the wallet holds | Notes, tax records, a letter of instruction |
If the phrase can't be found, see what to do when the seed phrase is missing.
Cloud backup: could an heir use it?
According to Coinbase, the wallet can back up the recovery phrase to iCloud or Google Drive, protected by a separate backup password. Coinbase says that if the backup password is lost, the backup can't be used.
So an heir would need both the owner's cloud account and the exact backup password. Using a dead person's Apple or Google account can raise legal issues, and those providers have their own deceased-user processes. The executor should get legal advice first. Don't guess passwords or try to get around security.
Step by step for the family
- Secure the phone and papers. Keep the owner's phone charged and safe. Don't reset it or delete the app.
- Never type the phrase into a website. A real restore happens only inside the official app from the app store.
- Use a trusted technical helper. If a restore is needed, do it with someone you trust on a clean phone.
- Confirm the executor's authority. Funds should move only under the executor's or administrator's legal authority.
- Move funds to an estate-controlled wallet. Create a new wallet with a new phrase that the executor controls, then transfer.
- Record values for taxes. Note each asset's value on the date of death and at transfer. See is inherited crypto taxable?
Beware of fake support
Coinbase says its staff never ask for sensitive credentials. No real Coinbase agent needs the wallet's recovery phrase or backup password. Fake "Coinbase support" numbers and pages, often on free hosting such as sites.google.com or pages.dev, are common. Reach Coinbase only through help.coinbase.com typed in yourself. See which wallet support numbers are real and our inheritance scam red flags.
If you use Coinbase Wallet: make this easier for your family
- Write down where the phrase backup is kept, not the words.
- Note whether you use cloud backup and where an authorized person can find the backup password.
- Say clearly whether you also have a Coinbase exchange account, since that is a separate claim.
- Keep a letter of instruction and a digital asset inventory.
PingVaults can store instructions like these encrypted and deliver them to a chosen contact after a period of inactivity.
Common questions
Will Coinbase's estate claim cover the wallet app?
No. The deceased-family-member process covers Coinbase exchange accounts. The self-custody wallet needs its recovery phrase or cloud backup.
Can Coinbase reset the wallet's backup password?
No. Coinbase says a lost backup password means the cloud backup can't be used.
Is Base App the same thing?
Yes. Base App was the app's name for part of 2025 and 2026. As of November 2026, the App Store lists it as Coinbase Wallet.
How can we tell if the owner had a Coinbase account too?
Look for Coinbase statements, tax forms, emails from Coinbase and bank transfers. See how to find out if someone had crypto.