Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-01060
Owner death — hardware wallet (2022)
IndeterminateCase description
A 2022 case involved a deceased who had held Bitcoin on multiple wallets across multiple hardware devices, none of which were documented. The executor found three hardware devices, one of which had Bitcoin visible on a blockchain explorer. Two devices showed no balance. The executor did not know which device held the Bitcoin or whether all three were required in a multisig scheme. Recovery services had to triage each device separately; the process took months and required iterative testing of seed phrases found in different locations in the deceased's home.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Owner death |
| Custody system | Hardware wallet (single key) |
| Outcome | Indeterminate |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2022 |
| Country | International |
Structural dependencies observed
What this illustrates
There was only one way in. When that path was gone, so was access. It's not clear whether anyone ever regained access.
Outcome interpretation
Not enough information is available to determine the outcome.
Source
Publicly Reported
Evidence type
News article
Related cases involving owner death
119 cases involve owner death
274 cases involve hardware wallet (single key)
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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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