Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-01234
Owner incapacity — exchange custody (2024)
SurvivesCase description
A UK elder law solicitor described a 2024 case involving a 78-year-old Binance user who had suffered a stroke and could no longer use a smartphone—necessary for the exchange's two-factor authentication. The holder's lasting power of attorney (LPA), held by their adult child, covered financial decisions. Binance's process for attorney access in the UK required the LPA to be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian and for the original registration certificate to be submitted. The process was eventually completed but required coordination with Binance's compliance team, the OPG, and a notary, taking approximately eight weeks.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Owner incapacity |
| Custody system | Exchange custody |
| Outcome | Survives |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2024 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
Structural dependencies observed
Outcome interpretation
Access remained possible under the reported conditions.
Source
Privately Reported
Evidence type
News article
Related cases involving owner incapacity
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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