Forced relocation — hardware wallet (2025)

Constrained

Case description

Palestinian Bitcoin holders in Gaza experienced a second consecutive year of severe infrastructure disruption. Banking systems remained non-functional across large areas, and internet connectivity was highly restricted. Bitcoin holdings in self-custody survived physically as long as seed phrase backups were retained, but transacting was impossible without internet access. Some Palestinian diaspora members had sent Bitcoin to family members in Gaza specifically because conventional remittance channels were non-functional—the Bitcoin arrived successfully on-chain but the recipients had no practical way to convert it to goods or services locally without functional exchange infrastructure.

Custody context

Stress condition	Forced relocation
Custody system	Hardware wallet (single key)
Outcome	Constrained
Documentation	Unknown
Year observed	2025
Country	Gaza / Palestine

Structural dependencies observed

Legal process required

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

https://milkroad.com/bankruptcies/

Related cases involving forced relocation

91 cases involve forced relocation 274 cases involve hardware wallet (single key) View archive statistics →

This archive documents observed custody survivability failures. It does not attempt to document all Bitcoin losses or security incidents. Submit a case

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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.