Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-01404
Garantex—a sanctioned Russian cryptocurrency exchange—had its infrastructure seized by
BlockedCase description
In March 2025, Garantex—a sanctioned Russian cryptocurrency exchange—had its infrastructure seized by US and German law enforcement in a coordinated operation. While the action was directed at dismantling a criminal exchange, it illustrated how government enforcement operations targeting platforms could simultaneously eliminate access for any legitimate users who had retained balances on the platform, regardless of their individual legal status. The operation froze Garantex's domains and wallet infrastructure, rendering inaccessible any user funds that remained on the platform at the time of the seizure.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Legal or authority constraint |
| Custody system | Exchange custody |
| Outcome | Blocked |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2025 |
| Country | United States |
Structural dependencies observed
What this illustrates
Before anyone could access the funds, a legal process had to be completed first. Access was not recoverable.
Outcome interpretation
Access was not possible under the reported conditions.
Source
Publicly Reported
Evidence type
News article
Related cases involving legal or authority constraint
39 cases involve legal or authority constraint
512 cases involve exchange custody
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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.