However, Uphold’s subsequent launch revealed that the product was an on-chain inheritance system for Vault that supports $XRP, Bitcoin, and Hedera.
Shortly after the launch, Uphold CPO Paul Unterberg addressed the speculation on X and explained how the new feature works.
According to Unterberg, Vault users can designate a beneficiary who can claim their crypto if they die or become incapacitated.
Lots of speculation on what we were teasing with our “$XRP in a Vault” graphic yesterday. It is an onchain inheritance system for Uphold Vault, the self-custody option inside our app.
Vault is a multisig wallet that requires 2/3 keys to move assets. Uphold has 1 key, the user has…
— Paul U. (@PaulWavelength) September 29, 2026
Uphold Vault Uses a 2-of-3 Multisig
Uphold Vault operates as a multi-signature wallet that requires two of three keys to authorize asset movements. The user controls two keys, while Uphold holds the third.
As a result, Uphold cannot independently move assets from a user’s Vault because the company still needs the user’s cryptographic signature.
However, Unterberg noted that this self-custody structure creates a challenge when a user can no longer sign transactions. Vault Inheritance addresses this issue by adding a dedicated inheritance path to the wallet.
Beneficiaries Can Claim Assets After Verification
Under the new inheritance system, Vault owners can designate a beneficiary. The beneficiary does not gain access to the owner’s account, wallet addresses, or holdings while the owner is alive.
If an inheritance claim becomes necessary, the beneficiary signs a transaction requesting the transfer of the vaulted assets to their account. Uphold then co-signs the transaction after verifying the claim through its standard inheritance process.
This structure allows Vault users to retain control of their assets during their lifetime while providing a mechanism for beneficiaries to access them when necessary.
$XRP Community Initially Expected an $XRP-Specific Product
The clarification followed an $XRP-focused teaser posted by Uphold’s official X account a day earlier. The post promised an “$XRP first” product later in the week and featured a GIF showing a vault opening to reveal the $XRP logo.
The teaser prompted speculation among $XRP users about the nature of the upcoming product. Some community members suggested that it could be related to Uphold’s upcoming dedicated Earn on $XRP yield service.
However, the Vault launch revealed a broader product. Rather than supporting $XRP exclusively, the inheritance system also supports Bitcoin and Hedera. The broader asset support disappointed some $XRP proponents who interpreted the original teaser as signaling an $XRP-exclusive launch.
Unterberg later clarified that $XRP remained central to the announcement because it had become the largest asset users were transferring into Vault, even though the product supports three cryptocurrencies.
Meanwhile, Unterberg indicated that Uphold’s dedicated $XRP yield service is still in development. The service is expected to leverage Flare’s infrastructure.
