Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-00289
A thorough search of all known email accounts and devices yielded no evidence of any
BlockedCase description
A family discovered in late 2015 that their recently deceased relative had referenced 'digital gold' in several journal entries. An estate specialist determined this likely referred to Bitcoin. However, no wallet files, account credentials, or documentation could be found on any device. A thorough search of all known email accounts and devices yielded no evidence of any actual Bitcoin holdings.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Documentation absent |
| Custody system | Mobile or software wallet |
| Outcome | Blocked |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2015 |
| 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. 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
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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.