A time-locked wallet is a type of Bitcoin vault in Bitcoin Keeper that’s designed to protect your funds by making them unspendable until a future date. You choose the time period—days, months, or even years—and until then, no one (not even you) can move the Bitcoin out.
It’s like putting your Bitcoin in a digital safe with a timer: you can see it, receive more into it, but you can’t touch it until the lock expires.
Why Use a Time-Locked Wallet?
🏦 For Long-Term Savings
Want to save Bitcoin for your kids, retirement, or just the long haul? Time-locking prevents the temptation to sell early. Think of it like a digital fixed deposit—with no way to break it prematurely.
👪 For Inheritance Planning
If you want your loved ones to access your Bitcoin only after a certain period, a time-locked wallet helps enforce that—especially useful when combined with multisig vaults and inheritance contacts.
🧘 For Peace of Mind
Some users set up a time-locked wallet as a "no-touch" zone—whether to avoid emotional decisions during market volatility or to protect against coercion. In such situations, knowing the funds simply cannot be moved can be a huge relief.
How It Works in Bitcoin Keeper
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You choose when the wallet should unlock (a date in the future).
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Until that date, the wallet can receive Bitcoin but cannot send it.
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After the unlock date, spending works just like any other wallet in Keeper.
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This is done securely and privately under the hood—no third parties involved.
Best Practices
✅ Start Small: Try creating a test vault with a short lock period to understand how it works before committing large amounts.
✅ Back Up Everything: Make sure your wallet’s recovery information is backed up properly. A time-lock doesn’t protect against lost keys.
✅ Set Clear Intentions: Know why you're locking your funds and for how long. Be realistic about your future needs.
Important to Know
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🕒 You can’t unlock early. Once locked, there's no way to override it—not by you, not by us. That’s the point.
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🔒 Only lock what you truly want to keep untouched. Don’t lock funds you might need in an emergency.
Example Use Cases
| Situation | How Time-Lock Helps |
|---|---|
| Saving for a child’s 18th birthday | Funds unlock only on their 18th birthday |
| Preparing for inheritance | Vault unlocks 2 years after no activity from your account |
| Holding through market volatility | Prevents panic-selling during market dips |
| Extra layer of security | Locked wallets can act as decoys or slow down attackers |
If you’re unsure how to get started, our Keeper Concierge is here to help you set up a time-locked vault that fits your specific goals.
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