Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-00770
A user's smartphone was stolen from their car in January 2020.
SurvivesCase description
A user's smartphone was stolen from their car in January 2020. The phone contained their primary Bitcoin wallet. The wallet app had no additional PIN beyond the phone's fingerprint lock. The thief was unable to bypass biometrics but factory-reset the phone to sell it. The seed was at home and used to recover funds.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Device loss |
| Custody system | Mobile or software wallet |
| Outcome | Survives |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2020 |
| 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
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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