Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-01048
Physical coercion — hardware wallet (2022)
BlockedCase description
A gang operating across multiple US states conducted a series of crypto-targeted home invasions in late 2022, entering homes of known crypto holders—identified through public records, social media, and blockchain analysis—and coercing victims at gunpoint into transferring Bitcoin and other assets. Bloomberg documented multiple incidents, noting that perpetrators had specifically chosen targets based on the known immutability and irreversibility of on-chain transfers.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Physical coercion |
| Custody system | Hardware wallet (single key) |
| Outcome | Blocked |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2022 |
| Country | United States |
Structural dependencies observed
What this illustrates
Access required in-person verification that couldn't be arranged under the circumstances. Access was not recoverable.
Outcome interpretation
Access was not possible under the reported conditions.
Source
Publicly Reported
Evidence type
News article
Related cases involving physical coercion
105 cases involve physical coercion
274 cases involve hardware wallet (single key)
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This archive documents observed custody survivability failures. It does not attempt to document all Bitcoin losses or security incidents.
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Framework references
Where Bitcoin Custody Intersects Legal and Fiduciary Authority
Where custody creates gaps in estate planning, fiduciary duty, and professional responsibility.
Professional Scope Boundary Matrix
What each professional or product covers, what they do not, and where gaps form between them.
The Independent Assessment Layer in Bitcoin Custody
How independent diagnostic layers emerge when multiple parties depend on shared infrastructure.
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