Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-00659
Estate access failure — software wallet (2019)
ConstrainedCase description
A January 2019 probate case involved an early Bitcoin adopter whose estate included a collection of paper wallets. Three of the wallets were in good condition and yielded substantial holdings. A fourth had been defaced with a permanent marker by a child who had used it as scrap paper years before, rendering the private key unreadable.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Owner death |
| Custody system | Mobile or software wallet |
| Outcome | Constrained |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2019 |
| 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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