Chinese courts are starting to recognize some digital assets as real property, marking a major shift in how online ownership is treated. Across multiple cases, judges have ruled that qualifying digital assets—including gaming accounts, in-game items, Bitcoin, and certain social media accounts—can be inherited. One notable case involved a rare in-game item called the "Golden Blade," which a court recognized as property after it was valued at around RMB 50,000. Other rulings have also recognized high-value gaming accounts and Bitcoin as inheritable assets. Chinese courts have even pushed back against platform rules that try to block inheritance, requiring companies to cooperate when heirs provide the proper legal documents. However, private content like chat histories is generally not inherited. The key principle is simple: if a digital asset has ownership, economic value, and can be transferred, it may qualify as part of a person's estate. As more of our wealth and identities move ...