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Casa vs. Unchained: Both collaborative multisig, different scope, geography, and assets.

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About Casa

TradingCustodyInheritanceWhite Glove

Casa is a self-custody software company founded in 2016 that serves clients worldwide. Its multi-key vault product gives clients the majority of private keys while Casa holds one recovery key that cannot move funds unilaterally. It supports bitcoin, Ethereum, USDC, and USDT, and is SOC 2 Type II certified. Casa does not offer retirement accounts, bitcoin-backed loans, or a trading desk.

Who each is for

Casa is for

International holders and those who hold ETH or stablecoins alongside bitcoin and want expert-supported multisig custody and inheritance planning without ever needing financial services.

Unchained is for

US-based holders who want collaborative custody alongside a trading desk, an IRA, bitcoin-backed loans, or fiduciary wealth management.

Casa
Unchained
Trading fee
Not publicly listed. Buys happen in-app via Zero Hash.
1.00% standard tier. 0.75% Signature tier.
Minimum purchase
No stated minimum
$2,000
Recurring / DCA
Not offered
Not offered
OTC / large trades
By eligibility. Not open to all clients.
Primary buy channel for all vault clients.
Settlement
Into a Casa vault.
Into your multisig vault.
Custody model
Collaborative multisig
Collaborative multisig
Key distribution
Client holds the majority of keys, Casa holds 1 key.
Client holds 2 keys, Unchained holds 1 key.
Default structure
2-of-3, with the client's 2 keys split between a mobile key and a hardware key.
2-of-3
Other configurations
Premium and Private Client tiers offer a 5-key vault (3-of-5) where the client holds 4 hardware keys and Casa holds 1.
Quorums up to 15-of-16 are supported on the Signature tier. Connections allow sharing keys with trusted parties.
Recovery if a key is lost
In the 3-key vault, loss of 1 key is recoverable. In the 5-key vault, loss of up to 2 keys is recoverable.
Loss of 1 key is recoverable. The remaining 2 keys still meet the 2-of-3 threshold.
Hardware wallets
Ledger, Trezor, Coldcard, Keystone
Ledger, Trezor, Coldcard, BitBox, Blockstream Jade
Annual cost
Casa Inheritance is $250/year. Premium is $2,100/year. Private Client is custom-priced.
$250/year per vault
Default process
Heir requests inheritance via the Casa app. Casa co-signs to unlock the vault after a waiting window.
Executor locates 1 client key and contacts Unchained with the Inheritance Protocol documents.
Heir technical knowledge required
Minimal. The Casa app walks the heir through the claim.
No bitcoin knowledge required. Executor follows written instructions.
Waiting period
6 months on the standard plan. Private Client clients who complete upfront ID verification bypass the wait.
None
Executable without company involvement
The default path requires Casa's cooperation. Open-source recovery via Sparrow or Electrum is possible but technical.
Yes. The client's 2 keys remain operable independently of Unchained.
Cost or included tier
Casa Inheritance from $250/year, also integrated with higher tiers.
Included with Signature. Protocol materials are also available separately.
Account types
Not applicable
Traditional, Roth, SEP
Key control
Not applicable
Client holds 2-of-3 keys in a dedicated IRA vault.
IRA custodian
Not applicable
Fortis Bank (Colorado-chartered, FDIC-supervised)
Account minimum
Not applicable
No minimum balance. $2,000 minimum per trade.
Trading fee
Not applicable
1.50% per trade
Annual fee
Not applicable
$250/year per IRA vault
Lender of record
Not applicable
Unchained (direct lender)
Eligible borrowers
Not applicable
Business entities only (LLC, corporation, single-member LLC)
Minimum loan
Not applicable
$150,000
Interest rate
Not applicable
12.0%
LTV at origination
Not applicable
50% at origination
Collateral custody during loan
Not applicable
Unchained and Fortis Bank each hold one key, which prevents any party from moving bitcoin unilaterally.
RIA
✕
✓
DAF
✕
✓
Trust entity
Not applicable
Gannett Trust Company, LLC
Jurisdiction / charter
Not applicable
Wyoming (chartered May 2025)
Services offered
Not applicable
Personal trust administration, corporate bitcoin treasury, qualified custody, dynasty trusts, and inheritance and estate planning.
Key control
Not applicable
Client-directed. Supports both collaborative custody and qualified custodian configurations.
Minimum assets
Not applicable
Not disclosed
Tier name
Premium and Private Client
Signature
Annual cost
Premium is $2,100/year. Private Client is custom-priced.
Personal: $6,000 first year, $4,500 renewal. Business: $7,500/year.
Dedicated contact
Premium clients get a 1-on-1 onboarding video call. Private Client clients get a named contact.
Dedicated relationship manager with same-day emergency support.
Included services
Premium includes 3 hardware devices and Faraday bags. Private Client adds accelerated verification.
Vault setup, 2 premium hardware wallets, security reviews, ongoing education, and inheritance setup.
Founded
2016
2016
Client funds lent
Non-custodial. Casa holds no client funds to lend.
Not applicable. No client funds are held, and loans are not rehypothecated.
Proof of reserves
Not applicable. Non-custodial.
Not applicable. The client holds their own keys, verifiable on-chain.
SOC certifications
SOC 2 Type II
SOC 1 Type II and SOC 2 Type II
US availability
All 50 states
Most states (varies by product)
International availability
Yes. 30+ countries.
No

Common questions

Both use multisig vaults where the client holds the majority of keys. Casa's standard plan includes a mobile software key alongside a hardware wallet key; mobile keys are less secure than hardware. Hardware-only configurations are available at Premium and above. Unchained uses two hardware wallet keys in all configurations.
No, not by default. Casa's standard process requires Casa's app and recovery key co-signature; if Casa ceased to operate, the default path breaks. Open-source recovery via Sparrow or Electrum is possible but requires technical knowledge beyond most heirs. Unchained clients hold 2 of 3 physical keys; heirs can access funds without Unchained's servers.
No. Casa has no lending product. Unchained offers bitcoin-backed loans with a $150,000 minimum to business entities only (LLCs, corporations, single-member LLCs — not individuals). Collateral stays in a multisig vault the borrower can verify on-chain throughout the loan term.
A Casa-held vault is a 2-of-3 (or 3-of-5) multisig where the client holds the majority of keys, so the client can spend at any time without Casa's involvement. To migrate, generate a new Unchained vault and send bitcoin on-chain from the Casa vault to the new Unchained vault address. The Casa account can then be closed. Hardware wallets the client already uses (Ledger, Trezor, Coldcard) can be reused as the client's keys in the new Unchained vault.
It depends on how the client treats their bitcoin. If bitcoin and altcoins are viewed as one portfolio that needs a single multisig setup, Casa supports BTC, ETH, USDC, and USDT under one roof. If bitcoin is treated as the priority position deserving dedicated, bitcoin-only collaborative custody, Unchained holds the bitcoin and a separate tool (a Casa vault, a hardware wallet, an exchange) holds the rest. Both patterns are common.

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About this guide

These comparisons are maintained by Unchained. We have tried to represent every service accurately and fairly, and where another service does something well that Unchained does not, we say so. Unchained appears as the reference point throughout because every page is built around a single question: how does this service differ from Unchained? That framing is why Unchained is more prominently featured, not because we consider it the default right answer for every reader.

Disclaimer: Unchained's product and service availability may vary by state. Nothing on this page is investment, tax, legal, or financial advice. Investment advisory services are offered only through Gannett Wealth Advisors. Consult your own advisors before making any financial decision. All financial products involve risk, including loss of principal. Bitcoin is volatile, and past performance does not guarantee future results.

This comparison is provided for informational purposes only and is current as of May 2026. Information about other companies is compiled from publicly available sources, including each company's documentation, regulatory filings, terms of service, and third-party reviews. Offerings, fees, terms, and state availability change frequently and may have changed since publication. Verify all information directly with each company before transacting.

References to other companies are for comparison purposes only and do not imply endorsement, partnership, sponsorship, or affiliation. All third-party names and marks are the property of their respective owners and are used for identification only. Reviewed quarterly; corrections will be addressed within five business days. If you represent a company listed here and/or believe information is inaccurate, fill out a feedback form.

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