Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-01194
The correct variant was identified after testing approximately 400 combinations.
SurvivesCase description
A user discovered in October 2023 that the passphrase they had set on their Ledger in 2021 contained a character they had typed incorrectly at setup—a common mobile keyboard error where adjacent keys are transposed. The user had a strong suspicion of the intended passphrase but could not identify which character was wrong. A recovery service systematically tested all single-character transpositions and substitutions near each character in the passphrase on a standard keyboard layout. The correct variant was identified after testing approximately 400 combinations.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Passphrase unavailable |
| Custody system | Hardware wallet (single key) |
| Outcome | Survives |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2023 |
| Country | International |
Structural dependencies observed
Outcome interpretation
Access remained possible under the reported conditions.
Source
Privately Reported
Evidence type
News article
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.
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