Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-00481
A Bitcoin trader died in June 2017 leaving active margin positions on two exchanges.
SurvivesCase description
A Bitcoin trader died in June 2017 leaving active margin positions on two exchanges. The exchanges closed the positions automatically after a set period of inactivity. Both exchanges then required estate documentation before releasing the remaining balances. One exchange required documentation certified in the country of death, which took four months to obtain.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Owner death |
| Custody system | Mobile or software wallet |
| Outcome | Survives |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2017 |
| Country | Unknown |
Structural dependencies observed
Outcome interpretation
Access remained possible under the reported conditions.
Source
Publicly Reported
Evidence type
Forum post
Related cases involving owner death
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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