Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-00159
Owner death — exchange custody (2014)
ConstrainedCase description
Autumn Radtke, 28-year-old CEO of First Meta, a Singapore-based virtual currency exchange, died on 26 February 2014 in circumstances the Singapore coroner later determined to be suicide. While no direct loss of customer funds was reported, Radtke's death left the company without its operational lead. The board had to manage continuity of platform access for users with active balances.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Owner death |
| Custody system | Exchange custody |
| Outcome | Constrained |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2014 |
| Country | Singapore |
Structural dependencies observed
What this illustrates
There was only one way in. When that path was gone, so was access. 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 owner death
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