Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-00439
Forced relocation — exchange custody (2017)
SurvivesCase description
Chinese Bitcoin users who had held accounts on domestic exchanges were forced to liquidate or transfer holdings to overseas exchanges following the September 2017 ban. The rushed migration created significant operational problems. Overseas exchanges experienced KYC bottlenecks from the surge of Chinese applicants. Many users waited weeks to complete verification on new platforms.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Forced relocation |
| Custody system | Exchange custody |
| Outcome | Survives |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2017 |
| Country | China |
Structural dependencies observed
Outcome interpretation
Access remained possible under the reported conditions.
Source
Publicly Reported
Evidence type
News article
Evidence link
Related cases involving forced relocation
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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