10 December 2025
Digital assets have been given statutory recognition as personal property for the first time, allowing people to leave digital art and cryptocurrency to their heirs
The Property (Digital Assets etc) Act 2025, which received royal assent last week, clarifies the status of digital assets, ensuring they can legally be transferred, sold or left in a will. It follows the trajectory of recent case law and implements Law Commission proposals to expand personal property rights to include assets which are neither ‘physical’ nor ‘rights-based’.
The Act will empower people to use digital assets as collateral for loans or mortgages, and allow them to take legal action in cases of theft, hacking or damage of digital property.
Law Society CEO Ian Jeffery said: ‘The new law helps courts handle relevant disputes and strengthens legal protection.’
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