Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-00398
The 2048-word BIP39 wordlist meant 2048 possible completions needed to be checked.
SurvivesCase description
A hardware wallet user who was upgrading devices in November 2016 found that their recovery seed was missing one word. They had recorded 23 of the 24 words. The missing word was the last one, which had fallen off a sticky note. The 2048-word BIP39 wordlist meant 2048 possible completions needed to be checked.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Seed phrase unavailable |
| Custody system | Hardware wallet (single key) |
| Outcome | Survives |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2016 |
| 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 seed phrase unavailable
146 cases involve seed phrase 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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