Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-01003
Passphrase unavailable — hardware wallet 2022
IndeterminateCase description
A Trezor Model T user reported on the Trezor forum in early 2022 that a passphrase which had worked reliably for over a year had suddenly stopped producing the correct hidden wallet. The user had physical possession of the seed phrase and the passphrase written on paper but could not reproduce the wallet. Investigation revealed the issue was a derivation path mismatch: the original wallet was created with a non-standard path and a subsequent firmware update had changed the default. The coins remained on-chain but inaccessible via standard recovery.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Passphrase unavailable |
| Custody system | Hardware wallet (single key) |
| Outcome | Indeterminate |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2022 |
| Country | International |
Structural dependencies observed
What this illustrates
The seed phrase was there, but the passphrase that unlocked it was gone. Both are required. It's not clear whether anyone ever regained access.
Outcome interpretation
Not enough information is available to determine the outcome.
Source
Publicly Reported
Evidence type
Forum post
Related cases involving passphrase unavailable
217 cases involve passphrase unavailable
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.