Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-00872
A long-term Bitcoin holder died in June 2021.
SurvivesCase description
A long-term Bitcoin holder died in June 2021. The estate found four old computers and two hardware wallets. Blockchain forensics confirmed significant on-chain activity linked to addresses generated from one of the computers. The hard drive was recovered but encrypted with a passphrase that no family member knew. The estate eventually identified the passphrase from a physical notebook in the deceased's handwriting.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Owner death |
| Custody system | Mobile or software wallet |
| Outcome | Survives |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2021 |
| 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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