CustodyStress
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Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-00009

Documentation absent — software wallet 2012

Blocked
Case description
A user set up an Armory offline signing arrangement involving two computers. When one of the computers was replaced, the user could not recreate the setup from memory and had no documentation. Transactions could no longer be signed.
Custody context
Stress conditionDocumentation absent
Custody systemMobile or software wallet
OutcomeBlocked
DocumentationUnknown
Year observed2012
CountryUnknown
Structural dependencies observed
Undocumented procedureSingle point of failureHardware device required
What this illustrates
Nobody had written down how to get back in. That knowledge existed only in the owner's head. Access was not recoverable.
Outcome interpretation
Access was not possible under the reported conditions.
Source
Publicly Reported
Evidence type
Forum post
Related cases involving documentation absent
193 cases involve documentation absent 572 cases involve mobile or software wallet View archive statistics →
This archive documents observed custody survivability failures. It does not attempt to document all Bitcoin losses or security incidents. Submit a case
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Framework references
Terms guide
Survives
Access remained possible under the reported conditions.
Constrained
Access remained possible, but only with delay, dependence, or significant difficulty.
Blocked
Access was not possible under the reported conditions.
Indeterminate
There was not enough information to determine the outcome.
Single-person knowledge
Recovery depended on information or capability held by one individual who was unavailable.
Institutional dependence
Recovery depended on a third-party institution or service that was inaccessible or uncooperative.
Documentation gap
Recovery depended on instructions that were missing, incomplete, or unclear.
Authority mismatch
The person with legal authority to act did not have operational access, or vice versa.