Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-01337
Estate access failure — hardware wallet (2025)
SurvivesCase description
A 2025 estate case described by a digital estate specialist involved a holder in Oregon who had stored their entire Bitcoin custody setup inside a Veracrypt-encrypted container on a USB drive, with the Veracrypt passphrase written in their will. The will was stored at a law firm that released it promptly after the holder's death. The executor successfully decrypted the container, which contained the seed phrase, wallet setup instructions, exchange account credentials, and a guide for the beneficiaries explaining how to use each item. The specialist described this as an example of best-practice documentation—all components were present, accessible through a single known passphrase, and clearly explained.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Owner death |
| Custody system | Hardware wallet (single key) |
| Outcome | Survives |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2025 |
| Country | United States |
Outcome interpretation
Access remained possible under the reported conditions.
Source
Privately 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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