Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-00994
Estate access failure — Kraken (2022)
SurvivesCase description
A 2022 estate that included Bitcoin held on Kraken required the executor to submit notarized documentation, a death certificate, letters testamentary, and the account holder's last known government ID. Kraken's process also required a statement of the anticipated use of funds and a confirmation that the estate had sought legal advice. The administrative burden effectively meant that small estates—where the Bitcoin value was modest—were not worth pursuing through the formal process, leading to those assets being abandoned by executors.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Owner death |
| Custody system | Exchange custody |
| Outcome | Survives |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2022 |
| Country | United States |
Structural dependencies observed
Outcome interpretation
Access remained possible under the reported conditions.
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