Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-00409
Passphrase unavailable — exchange custody (2017)
SurvivesCase description
An exchange account holder who had not logged in since 2014 found in September 2017 that the exchange had migrated to a new authentication system. Their old password did not work and the email address associated with the account had been decommissioned by its provider. Account recovery required original identity documents that took weeks to locate.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Passphrase unavailable |
| Custody system | Exchange custody |
| Outcome | Survives |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2017 |
| Country | Unknown |
Structural dependencies observed
Outcome interpretation
Access remained possible under the reported conditions.
Source
Publicly Reported
Evidence type
Forum post
Evidence link
Related cases involving passphrase unavailable
217 cases involve passphrase unavailable
512 cases involve exchange custody
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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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