Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-01212
Owner incapacity — Coldcard (2024)
SurvivesCase description
A 2024 case involved a Bitcoin holder who was diagnosed with early-stage dementia and sought to establish a succession plan for their self-custody holdings before cognitive decline progressed. The holder had a Coldcard hardware wallet with a complex passphrase known only to themselves. With assistance from an estate planning attorney, the holder established a durable power of attorney with explicit digital asset authority and documented the wallet access instructions in a sealed letter maintained by their attorney. The case illustrated the importance of incapacity planning during the window when the holder could still meaningfully participate in documenting their own custody arrangements.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Owner incapacity |
| Custody system | Hardware wallet (single key) |
| Outcome | Survives |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2024 |
| Country | United States |
Structural dependencies observed
Outcome interpretation
Access remained possible under the reported conditions.
Source
Privately Reported
Evidence type
News article
Related cases involving owner incapacity
68 cases involve owner incapacity
274 cases involve hardware wallet (single key)
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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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