Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-01333
Passphrase unavailable — Coldcard (2025)
SurvivesCase description
A November 2025 case involved a Coldcard hardware wallet where the holder had forgotten the device PIN after not using it for over a year. Unlike some earlier hardware wallets, Coldcard implements a brick-me PIN—a second PIN that, if entered, permanently destroys the wallet. The holder had set a brick-me PIN alongside their main PIN and documented both on paper, but the paper was unclear about which was which. A specialist advised the holder to attempt the two PINs only on a known wallet with a small balance first, to safely identify which PIN triggered brick mode before attempting either on the main device. The main PIN was identified and the wallet accessed.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Passphrase unavailable |
| Custody system | Hardware wallet (single key) |
| Outcome | Survives |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2025 |
| Country | United States |
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.