Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-00743
The exchange's account recovery process required the 2FA device, creating a deadlock.
SurvivesCase description
A December 2019 case describes a user who had not logged into a Bitcoin exchange since 2015 and found the account's 2FA had been tied to a phone number that had been recycled by the carrier to a different customer. The exchange's account recovery process required the 2FA device, creating a deadlock. Recovery required three months of correspondence.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Passphrase unavailable |
| Custody system | Exchange custody |
| Outcome | Survives |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2019 |
| 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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