Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-01263
Device lost — Trezor (2024)
SurvivesCase description
A 2024 case involved a traveller whose luggage—including a Trezor Model One hardware wallet—was lost by an airline. The holder had their seed phrase documented at home. They purchased a new Trezor, restored using the seed phrase, and transferred funds to a different address within 48 hours as a precaution against the lost device being found and subjected to physical attack. The case was a successful recovery demonstrating the seed phrase system working as designed—but it also required the holder to act quickly and know the correct recovery procedure.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Device loss |
| Custody system | Hardware wallet (single key) |
| Outcome | Survives |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2024 |
| Country | International |
Outcome interpretation
Access remained possible under the reported conditions.
Source
Privately Reported
Evidence type
News article
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.