Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-01187
Physical coercion — hardware wallet (2023)
BlockedCase description
A Bloomberg investigation into crypto home invasions described a gang that in 2023 conducted multiple home invasions across the southeastern United States targeting known Bitcoin holders. The gang used data broker records and public social media posts to identify targets, researched their holdings, and used coordinated multi-person teams. One Florida retiree couple was targeted after the husband had made public comments about Bitcoin at a local event. The gang's operations illustrated how public disclosure of Bitcoin holdings—even locally—created targeted physical security risks.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Physical coercion |
| Custody system | Hardware wallet (single key) |
| Outcome | Blocked |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2023 |
| 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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