A Ledger Nano S user lost their device and attempted recovery using their seed.

Blocked

Case description

A Ledger Nano S user lost their device and attempted recovery using their seed. They discovered the 24 words they had recorded were in a different order than expected—having written them row by row from a visual presentation rather than in the correct order. The incorrect ordering produced a valid but different wallet with no funds.

Custody context

Stress condition	Device loss
Custody system	Hardware wallet (single key)
Outcome	Blocked
Documentation	Unknown
Year observed	2016
Country	Unknown

Structural dependencies observed

Single point of failure

What this illustrates

There was only one way in. When that path was gone, so was access. Access was not recoverable.

Outcome interpretation

Access was not possible under the reported conditions.

Source

Publicly Reported

Evidence type

Forum post

Evidence link

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=255793.0

Related cases involving device loss

188 cases involve device loss 274 cases involve hardware wallet (single key) View archive statistics →

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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.