Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-00524
A hardware wallet user's device was destroyed in a house fire in March 2018.
SurvivesCase description
A hardware wallet user's device was destroyed in a house fire in March 2018. The seed phrase had been stored in a fireproof safe at the same property. The safe survived but the contents were damaged by heat and smoke. The seed card's ink had faded but four of the 24 words were still partially legible, allowing partial recovery with professional assistance.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Device loss |
| Custody system | Hardware wallet (single key) |
| Outcome | Survives |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2018 |
| 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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