5 Digital Assets You Forgot You Have (Worth Thousands)

Quick question: How much money is sitting in digital accounts you forgot you have?

Most people guess “maybe $50.”

The real answer averages $8,247 per person.

Here are the 5 most valuable digital assets people forget about:

Why Digital Assets Get Forgotten

The digital age has created a new problem: we have more valuable assets than ever, but they’re easier to forget about.

Traditional assets like houses, cars, and bank accounts are physical and visible. You see them every day, so you remember they exist.

Digital assets are invisible and scattered across dozens of platforms. They grow silently in the background, accumulating value while you focus on other things.

The result: Most families have thousands of dollars in forgotten digital wealth that could be lost forever if not properly documented and protected.

The solution: Regular digital asset audits and proper estate planning to ensure your family can access everything you’ve built.

1. Old 401(k) Accounts 💰

Average forgotten value: $4,200

When you leave a job, your 401(k) doesn’t follow you. It just sits there, growing quietly.

Why they get forgotten:

• Job changes: People change jobs frequently, leaving 401(k) accounts behind
• Company changes: Companies merge, get acquired, or change 401(k) providers
• Automatic enrollment: Many people are automatically enrolled and forget about it
• Out of sight: 401(k) statements often go to old email addresses

What happens to forgotten 401(k) accounts:

• They keep growing: Investments continue to grow even when forgotten
• Fees continue: Administrative fees continue to be deducted
• Statements stop: Statements may stop being sent to old addresses
• Eventually escheat: After years, they may be turned over to state unclaimed property

Quick check:

• Email search: “401k” or “retirement”
• Contact previous employers’ HR departments
• Check unclaimed401k.org
• Look for old 401(k) statements in files

Real family story: “We found 3 different 401(k) accounts my dad had from jobs going back 15 years. Total value: $47,000.” - Samantha, Denver

What to do with found 401(k) accounts:

• Roll over: Roll them into your current 401(k) or IRA
• Consolidate: Combine multiple accounts for easier management
• Update beneficiaries: Make sure beneficiaries are current
• Document access: Ensure family knows how to access them

2. Loyalty Points and Miles ✈️

Average forgotten value: $2,847

That airline credit card? Hotel stays from business trips? They add up.

Why loyalty points get forgotten:

• Multiple programs: People belong to dozens of loyalty programs
• Inactive accounts: Points expire or accounts become inactive
• Email overload: Loyalty emails get lost in inbox clutter
• Complex rules: Expiration dates and usage rules are confusing

What points are worth:

• Chase points: 1.5-2.1¢ each
• Airline miles: 1.2-2.5¢ each
• Hotel points: 0.4-1.1¢ each
• Credit card points: 0.5-2.0¢ each
• Retail points: 0.1-1.0¢ each

Common forgotten loyalty programs:

• Airlines: Delta, United, American, Southwest, JetBlue
• Hotels: Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Hyatt, Choice
• Credit cards: Chase, Amex, Citi, Capital One
• Retail: Amazon, Target, Walmart, Starbucks
• Gas stations: Shell, Exxon, BP, Chevron

Quick check:

• Search email for “miles,” “points,” “rewards”
• Check all credit card accounts
• Look for unused gift cards
• Check airline and hotel apps on your phone

What to do with found points:

• Use them: Book travel or redeem for merchandise
• Transfer them: Transfer to family members if allowed
• Document them: List all loyalty accounts for family
• Set reminders: Set reminders for expiration dates

3. Cryptocurrency from “Early Days” 📈

Average forgotten value: $3,200

Remember when your coworker convinced you to buy “just $50” of Bitcoin in 2017?

Why cryptocurrency gets forgotten:

• Early adoption: Many people bought crypto early and forgot about it
• App changes: Crypto apps get deleted or forgotten
• Email changes: Crypto account emails go to old addresses
• Complexity: Crypto can be confusing and intimidating

Common forgotten crypto:

• Coinbase learn-and-earn rewards: Free crypto from educational content
• Old mining rewards: Bitcoin or other crypto from mining
• App sign-up bonuses: Free crypto from app registrations
• Gaming crypto tokens: Crypto earned from gaming
• Airdrops: Free crypto distributed to wallet holders
• Staking rewards: Crypto earned from staking

Where to look for forgotten crypto:

• Exchanges: Coinbase, Binance, Kraken, Gemini
• Wallets: MetaMask, Trust Wallet, Exodus
• Apps: Check old phones for crypto apps
• Email: Search for “Bitcoin,” “crypto,” “wallet,” “blockchain”

Quick check:

• Check Coinbase, Binance, Kraken accounts
• Look for old wallet apps on phones
• Search email for “Bitcoin,” “crypto,” “wallet”
• Check old hard drives for wallet files

What to do with found crypto:

• Secure it: Move to a secure wallet
• Document it: List all crypto holdings for family
• Backup keys: Ensure private keys are backed up
• Plan for taxes: Understand tax implications

4. Employee Stock Options 📊

Average forgotten value: $5,400

Worked for a startup? Tech company? You might have valuable stock sitting around.

Why employee stock gets forgotten:

• Job changes: People leave companies and forget about stock options
• Complex vesting: Stock options have complex vesting schedules
• Company changes: Companies merge, get acquired, or go public
• Out of sight: Stock statements may go to old addresses

What to look for:

• Stock options that vested: Options that have become exercisable
• Employee stock purchase plans: ESPP shares from previous employers
• Company stock grants: Restricted stock units (RSUs) or stock grants
• Startup equity that went public: Private company stock that went public
• Stock purchase plans: Employee stock purchase plan shares

Where to look for forgotten stock:

• Brokerage accounts: E*TRADE, Charles Schwab, Fidelity
• Company portals: Employee stock plan websites
• Tax forms: 1099-B forms from stock sales
• Email: Search for “stock,” “equity,” “options,” “vesting”

Quick check:

• Check E*TRADE, Charles Schwab accounts
• Contact former employers about stock plans
• Look for 1099-B tax forms
• Search email for stock-related terms

What to do with found stock:

• Exercise options: Exercise vested stock options
• Sell shares: Sell shares if you need cash
• Hold shares: Hold shares if you believe in the company
• Document holdings: List all stock holdings for family

5. Domain Names You Own 🌐

Average forgotten value: $1,800

That blog you started in 2018? The business idea domain? Some are worth serious money.

Why domain names get forgotten:

• Project abandonment: People start projects and abandon them
• Business ideas: Domain names for business ideas that never materialized
• Automatic renewals: Domains auto-renew and people forget about them
• Email changes: Domain renewal emails go to old addresses

What makes domain names valuable:

• Short domains: Short, memorable domain names
• Keyword domains: Domains with popular keywords
• Brandable domains: Domains that could be brand names
• Expired domains: Domains that expired and were re-registered
• Premium domains: Domains with premium extensions

Where to look for forgotten domains:

• Registrars: GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains
• Email: Search for “domain,” “renewal,” “registration”
• WHOIS lookup: Use WHOIS lookup with your email
• Domain portfolios: Check if you have domain portfolios

Quick check:

• Search email for “domain,” “renewal,” “registration”
• Check GoDaddy, Namecheap accounts
• Use WHOIS lookup with your email
• Check old project files for domain information

What to do with found domains:

• Develop them: Build websites on valuable domains
• Sell them: Sell domains on domain marketplaces
• Hold them: Hold domains for future use
• Document them: List all domains for family

Your 5-Minute Action Plan

Right now:

1. Email search for “401k,” “miles,” “crypto,” “domain,” “stock”
2. Check apps on your phone for forgotten accounts
3. List findings - you’ll be surprised
4. Get your accurate digital asset value with our free calculator

This weekend:

• Contact previous employers about retirement accounts
• Consolidate or use expiring points/miles
• Secure access to valuable accounts

Don’t Let Your Family Hunt for Hidden Treasure

These forgotten assets grow every day. But without proper planning, they disappear when you’re gone.

73% of families never recover forgotten digital assets.

Don’t let your discoveries become your family’s losses.

Protect Your Hidden Digital Wealth →

2-minute setup, lifetime protection. Free to start.

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Found hidden digital wealth? Share your discovery amount in the comments - you might inspire others to look for their own forgotten assets!