Owner incapacity — hardware wallet (2024)

Blocked

Case description

A 2024 case documented by a digital asset recovery firm involved a holder who had suffered a traumatic brain injury and retained no memory of having owned Bitcoin or where their keys were stored. The family was unaware of any Bitcoin holdings until a friend mentioned the holder had discussed Bitcoin extensively before the accident. A forensic analysis of old devices and email accounts identified probable wallet software installations and transaction records, but no key material was found. The holder could not provide any guidance. The Bitcoin remained permanently inaccessible—held by someone who was alive but had no path to recovery due to memory loss.

Custody context

Stress condition	Owner incapacity
Custody system	Hardware wallet (single key)
Outcome	Blocked
Documentation	Unknown
Year observed	2024
Country	International

Structural dependencies observed

Single point of failure

What this illustrates

There was only one way in. When that path was gone, so was access. Access was not recoverable.

Outcome interpretation

Access was not possible under the reported conditions.

Source

Privately Reported

Evidence type

News article

Evidence link

https://www.wealthmanagement.com/estate-planning/bitcoin-after-death-2025-estate-guide

Related cases involving owner incapacity

68 cases involve owner incapacity 274 cases involve hardware wallet (single key) View archive statistics →

This archive documents observed custody survivability failures. It does not attempt to document all Bitcoin losses or security incidents. Submit a case

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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.