Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-00087
When the December 2013 price peak passed and investors sought to withdraw profits, some
ConstrainedCase description
Several Bitcoin investment platforms that accepted deposits through 2013 maintained no published reserve audits and no documented withdrawal policy. When the December 2013 price peak passed and investors sought to withdraw profits, some of these platforms imposed unexpected withdrawal limits or delays with no contractual basis that customers had agreed to.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Documentation absent |
| Custody system | Exchange custody |
| Outcome | Constrained |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2013 |
| Country | Unknown |
Structural dependencies observed
What this illustrates
Nobody had written down how to get back in. That knowledge existed only in the owner's head. Whether full access was ultimately possible is unclear, but significant delay or outside intervention was involved.
Outcome interpretation
Access remained possible, but only with delay, dependence, or significant difficulty.
Source
Publicly Reported
Evidence type
Forum post
Evidence link
Related cases involving documentation absent
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.