Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-01053
Forced relocation — Coinbase (2022)
ConstrainedCase description
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Western exchanges including Coinbase, Kraken, and Binance faced pressure from regulators to restrict services to Russian users. Several exchanges blocked withdrawals or disabled accounts for Russian-IP users. Russian individuals who had crypto on these exchanges faced sudden inability to access or transfer their holdings as a result of geopolitical events outside their control. Some users reported being unable to withdraw for weeks as exchange policies shifted.
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.
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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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