Owner incapacity — software wallet (2019)

Constrained

Case description

An October 2019 case documents a Bitcoin holder with a degenerative neurological condition who, in an earlier lucid period, had drafted instructions for accessing their Bitcoin. By October 2019 the holder was no longer capable of confirming the instructions were complete or correct. The family followed the written instructions and successfully recovered most but not all of the holdings.

Custody context

Stress condition	Owner incapacity
Custody system	Mobile or software wallet
Outcome	Constrained
Documentation	Unknown
Year observed	2019
Country	Unknown

Structural dependencies observed

Single point of failure

What this illustrates

There was only one way in. When that path was gone, so was access. 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

Evidence link

https://medium.com/@wayne_huang/rsa-2015-panel-bitcoin-s-future-threats-expert-s-roundtable-based-on-150-case-studies-92cc35e68e30

Related cases involving owner incapacity

68 cases involve owner incapacity 572 cases involve mobile or software wallet 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

← All cases

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.