Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-01220
Owner incapacity — hardware wallet (2024)
IndeterminateCase description
A 2024 case involved a Bitcoin holder who had been in a coma following a traffic accident for three months. The holder had self-custody Bitcoin on a hardware wallet—no exchange involvement. The family held durable power of attorney but the POA document did not specifically reference digital assets or self-custody wallets. The POA was granted to the holder's spouse under RUFADAA, but without the holder's knowledge of PIN or seed phrase location, even valid legal authority was insufficient to access the Bitcoin. The holder eventually recovered consciousness and regained access, but the case illustrated that legal authority alone could not overcome cryptographic barriers in self-custody.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Owner incapacity |
| Custody system | Hardware wallet (single key) |
| Outcome | Indeterminate |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2024 |
| Country | United States |
Structural dependencies observed
What this illustrates
There was only one way in. When that path was gone, so was access. It's not clear whether anyone ever regained access.
Outcome interpretation
Not enough information is available to determine the outcome.
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.