Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-00774
Passphrase unavailable — exchange custody (2020)
SurvivesCase description
A December 2020 case describes an exchange account holder who had not logged in since 2016. The account's 2FA was linked to a phone number that had been reassigned by the carrier to a new customer. The exchange's account recovery system required the phone 2FA as one factor. The recovery process without 2FA required submitting a government ID and waiting 30 business days.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Passphrase unavailable |
| Custody system | Exchange custody |
| Outcome | Survives |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2020 |
| 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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