Higher allowances for income calculations have been in effect for widows’ pensions since July 1, 2025: The monthly allowance is now €1,076.86 net and increases by €228.42 for each child entitled to an orphan’s pension.

Income above the allowance will continue to be credited at 40 percent toward the widow’s pension, allowing many survivors to retain more of their pension.

In addition, statutory pensions – and thus also survivors’ pensions – were increased by 3.74 percent as of July 1, 2025.

However, especially in light of falling interest rates and persistent inflation, the long-term protection of purchasing power remains an issue. Bitcoin supporters argue for a small addition of the leading cryptocurrency, especially against this backdrop.

As a complement to overnight/fixed-term deposits and broadly diversified ETFs, it is intended to further diversify the portfolio. However, BTC is still associated with the notorious price fluctuations.

For surviving dependents, therefore, only a conservative dosage of approximately 1-5 percent is recommended, ideally through a savings plan to smooth out entry prices. This portion could be deducted from the amount of stocks/index funds, which are also considered risky investments.

Secure storage on reputable exchanges or, ideally, via a hardware wallet, as well as proper documentation, are also important.

For tax purposes, capital gains are generally considered private sales transactions (Section 23 of the Income Tax Act). Important for pensions: It is not the invested capital, but rather income and realized gains that increase assessable income and can reduce the payment. Withdrawals should therefore be planned.

Bitcoin would therefore be a suitable small addition, especially given the macroeconomic situation – former hedge fund manager Ray Dalio warns of a “debt-related heart attack” in the next five years. While the price fluctuates greatly in the short term, it should help counteract the effects of inflation in the long term.

The rule of thumb is: the better off you are financially and the longer your life expectancy, the higher your share of “digital gold” can be. However, you should always keep an emergency fund in your checking account to be prepared for urgent expenses in an emergency.

Other cryptocurrencies are not recommended due to their significantly higher speculative nature.