Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-00179
The remaining two shareholders could form quorum, but the departed CTO had configured
SurvivesCase description
A Bitcoin startup that held company treasury in a 2-of-3 multisig discovered that one of its three key holders—a former CTO who had departed acrimoniously—refused to participate in any future signing ceremonies. The remaining two shareholders could form quorum, but the departed CTO had configured their key on hardware that could not be accessed without a PIN only they knew.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Multisig quorum failure |
| Custody system | Exchange custody |
| Outcome | Survives |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2014 |
| Country | Unknown |
Structural dependencies observed
Outcome interpretation
Access remained possible under the reported conditions.
Source
Publicly Reported
Evidence type
Forum post
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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.
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