Meanwhile, a Bermuda-based life insurer that denominates its policies in bitcoin, has raised $37.5 million, CoinDesk reports. The round was led by existing investor Bain Capital Crypto, with Haun Ventures, Framework Ventures, Pantera Capital, Apollo, and others participating. CoinDesk says the company is backed by OpenAI founder and CEO Sam Altman and has raised $180 million to date, including an $82 million round about a year earlier.

The funding is a business story. The more useful story for readers is what a bitcoin-denominated insurance policy actually changes.

What Meanwhile sells

CoinDesk's report doesn't say how the new money will be used, and it doesn't say whether the policies are offered to U.S. residents. The 15 brokers it describes serve clients in four markets, all outside the United States.

What denominating a policy in bitcoin changes

A traditional life insurance policy promises a death benefit in dollars. The amount is set in advance and doesn't depend on the price of any asset, with variable policies an exception. A bitcoin-denominated policy promises a number of bitcoin instead, so the dollar value your family receives depends on the price when the benefit is paid.

Table: a hypothetical 0.25 bitcoin death benefit, at different bitcoin prices
Bitcoin priceValue of 0.25 BTC
$60,000$15,000
$80,000$20,000
$100,000$25,000
$150,000$37,500

This is an illustration of arithmetic, not a forecast. It shows the point: price risk moves from the insurer to the policyholder's family. A dollar policy gives certainty about the amount. A bitcoin policy gives a bet that the amount, in dollars, will be larger by the time it matters, and a risk that it will be smaller. The company's 2025 funding release was titled around "inflation-proof savings," per The Block, but a price that can fall sharply is not a guarantee of purchasing power.

Questions to ask about any product like this

Whether bitcoin should be part of an estate plan at all is a separate question that depends on a person's circumstances, risk tolerance, and legal advice. Our look at bitcoin ETFs for patient investors covers the investing side.

Common questions

What is Meanwhile?

Meanwhile is a Bermuda-based, bitcoin-focused life insurer. According to CoinDesk, it sells life insurance policies with premiums and death benefits denominated in bitcoin and holds a license from the Bermuda Monetary Authority granted in 2024.

How much did Meanwhile raise?

CoinDesk reports a $37.5 million round led by Bain Capital Crypto. Total funding to date is $180 million, per the company's emailed announcement, including an $82 million round about a year earlier.

Is bitcoin life insurance available in the United States?

CoinDesk's report doesn't say. The 15 brokers it describes serve high-net-worth clients in Switzerland, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates, and it describes the company as expanding outside the U.S.

What is the risk of a bitcoin-denominated death benefit?

The benefit is a set amount of bitcoin, so its dollar value rises and falls with the bitcoin price. A beneficiary could receive more or less in dollar terms than the policy was worth when it was bought.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, tax, or legal advice. Figures are as reported by the sources linked below as of October 9, 2026, and guidance described as proposed or expected may change. Consult a licensed tax professional or financial advisor about your own situation.
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