Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-00779
Documentation absent — hardware wallet (2020)
IndeterminateCase description
When Ledger's July 2020 customer data was published in December 2020, 272,000 customers found their home addresses, phone numbers, and order details publicly available. Ledger's privacy documentation had assured customers their personal data was protected. The company had not disclosed the breach for five months after discovering it. Customers had no way to verify whether their addresses were in the leaked dataset for days after publication.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Documentation absent |
| Custody system | Hardware wallet (single key) |
| Outcome | Indeterminate |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2020 |
| Country | France |
Structural dependencies observed
What this illustrates
Access ran through a third-party platform. When that platform became unavailable, so did the Bitcoin. It's not clear whether anyone ever regained access.
Outcome interpretation
Not enough information is available to determine the outcome.
Source
Publicly Reported
Evidence type
News article
Related cases involving documentation absent
193 cases involve documentation absent
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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