Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-00540
Estate access failure — software wallet (2018)
ConstrainedCase description
A July 2018 probate case involved a digital nomad who had Bitcoin holdings distributed across three wallets on devices in three countries. The estate took eight months to locate all three devices through coordination with international postal services. Only one device's wallet was accessible without a seed. The other two required professional recovery that succeeded for one and failed for the other.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Owner death |
| Custody system | Mobile or software wallet |
| Outcome | Constrained |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2018 |
| Country | Unknown |
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
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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