Treasury Continuity Guide
A reference guide for founders documenting offline reserve custody — custody maps, recovery runbooks, and handoff procedures.
What treasury continuity means
Treasury continuity is the practice of ensuring that offline reserves — held in hardware wallets, multi-signature arrangements, or cold storage — remain accessible and governable through personnel changes, emergencies, and corporate transitions. It is documentation and process, not technology.
Founders who moved reserves off exchanges solved one problem: custodial risk. Continuity documentation solves the next problem: operational risk concentrated in undocumented knowledge.
Core documents
Every offline treasury should maintain four documents:
Custody map
A single-page diagram showing every key holder, their signing role, geographic location, and the devices or fragments they control. Readable by a board member with no technical background.
Device inventory
A table listing every hardware wallet with a consistent label used across physical stickers, spreadsheets, and continuity notes. Includes device model, label, assigned holder, and storage location.
Recovery runbook
Step-by-step procedures for authorizing transactions under normal and emergency conditions. Includes signer quorum requirements, communication protocols, and verification steps.
Emergency sheet
A one-page summary stored in at least two physical locations separate from the full runbook. Contains escalation contacts, quorum requirements, and the first three actions in an emergency.
Continuity lifecycle
Setup phase (days 1–30): Document immediately after cold storage configuration. Memory is fresh; signers are aligned.
Maintenance phase (ongoing): Update documentation within five business days of any custody change — new signer, relocated storage, added wallet.
Review phase (annually): Run the twelve-point checklist. Commission external review before investor diligence or major personnel changes.
Transition phase (as needed): When a signer departs, complete handoff documentation before their last day. Include a verification session with remaining signers.
Common custody arrangements we document
| Arrangement | Typical signers | Documentation focus |
|---|---|---|
| 2-of-3 multisig | Two co-founders + CFO | Quorum paths, escalation when one unavailable |
| Single founder + backup | Founder + external advisor | Succession trigger, advisor authority limits |
| Geographic split | Signers in 2+ countries | Timezone coordination, assembly location |
| Corporate + personal | Company vault + founder home safe | Authority separation, audit trail |
When to seek external help
Consider commissioning a treasury continuity audit when:
- Reserves have been offline for six months without documentation
- A co-founder or key signer is departing within 90 days
- Investor diligence requires custody documentation
- A board member or auditor has requested treasury procedures
- You have experienced or simulated an access delay
Microsoft Store companion
For day-to-day wallet labeling and continuity note organization, our Offline Wallet Tracker companion is available on the Microsoft Store.
Next steps
- View consultations — audits, reviews, and workshops
- Check rates — fixed fees and quote-based work
- Request a session — we respond within two business days
Offline Wallet Tracker
Available on the Microsoft Store