Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-00209
Border confiscation — Trezor (2015)
SurvivesCase description
A Trezor user's device was confiscated by customs officers at an international border crossing in May 2015. The customs authority claimed the device could be used to evade financial reporting requirements. The device was not returned for six weeks and the owner could not access their BTC during this period. The owner had stored the recovery seed remotely and was not near it during the crossing.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Device loss |
| Custody system | Hardware wallet (single key) |
| Outcome | Survives |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2015 |
| Country | Unknown |
Structural dependencies observed
Outcome interpretation
Access remained possible under the reported conditions.
Source
Publicly Reported
Evidence type
Forum post
Evidence link
Related cases involving device loss
188 cases involve device loss
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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