Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-01051
Forced relocation — Coinbase (2022)
ConstrainedCase description
Russian holders of Bitcoin on international exchanges faced unexpected access constraints in early 2022 as multiple exchanges—including Coinbase, Binance, and Kraken—responded to regulatory pressure by limiting services for Russian IP addresses. Users who had not enabled VPN access or who had accounts tied to Russian phone numbers found themselves unable to access their holdings at exactly the time when economic uncertainty and ruble devaluation made accessing Bitcoin most urgent.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Forced relocation |
| Custody system | Exchange custody |
| Outcome | Constrained |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2022 |
| Country | Russia |
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
Related cases involving forced relocation
This archive documents observed custody survivability failures. It does not attempt to document all Bitcoin losses or security incidents.
Submit a case
← All cases
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.
Translate