Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-00944
Owner death — software wallet (2021)
ConstrainedCase description
A July 2021 estate case involved a deceased who had diversified Bitcoin across 15 different wallets on 8 different platforms. The estate spent six months assembling a comprehensive inventory. Three wallets were never located. Two platforms had deactivated inactive accounts. All recovered assets were successfully claimed within 18 months.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Owner death |
| Custody system | Mobile or software wallet |
| Outcome | Constrained |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2021 |
| Country | Unknown |
Structural dependencies observed
What this illustrates
Nobody had written down how to get back in. That knowledge existed only in the owner's head. 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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