Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-00492
Forced relocation — exchange custody (2017)
ConstrainedCase description
Following the Chinese exchange ban, the PBoC issued further guidance in October 2017 targeting offshore exchanges with Chinese-language interfaces. VPN usage to access these exchanges was specifically flagged as a compliance violation. Chinese users who had migrated to offshore exchanges found themselves in an increasingly precarious legal position regarding both account access and legal status.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Forced relocation |
| Custody system | Exchange custody |
| Outcome | Constrained |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2017 |
| Country | China |
Structural dependencies observed
What this illustrates
Before anyone could access the funds, a legal process had to be completed first. 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
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.