Getting Started
What is Shardium?
Shardium is a trustless dead man's switch for crypto inheritance. It uses Shamir's Secret Sharing to split your seed phrase into 3 shards, ensuring no single party can access your funds.
Prerequisites
- A crypto wallet seed phrase (12 or 24 words)
- An email address for heartbeat notifications
- A beneficiary's email address
Quick Start (5 minutes)
Step 1: Enter Your Seed Phrase
- Visit the Shardium app
- Disconnect from the internet (for maximum security)
- Enter your 12 or 24 word seed phrase
- Click "Encrypt & Split Key"
Step 2: Save Your Shards
After splitting, you'll receive 3 shards:
| Shard | Who Keeps It | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Shard A | You | Master backup - store in password manager or safe |
| Shard B | Beneficiary | Give to your heir (printed PDF recommended) |
| Shard C | Shardium Server | Released to beneficiary when switch triggers |
Step 3: Activate the Switch
- Enter your email address
- Enter your beneficiary's email
- Click "Activate Shardium"
That's it! You'll receive heartbeat emails every 30 days.
What Happens Next?
- Every 30 days: You receive an email asking "Are you alive?"
- If you respond: Timer resets, nothing happens
- If you miss 3 checks (90 days): Shard C is emailed to your beneficiary
- Beneficiary combines B + C: They can recover your seed phrase
Security Tips
- ✅ Split your seed phrase while offline
- ✅ Store Shard A in multiple secure locations
- ✅ Give Shard B to beneficiary in physical form (printed)
- ✅ Use a dedicated email for heartbeat notifications
- ❌ Never store your full seed phrase digitally