Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-00003
A Bitcoin-Qt user made over 100 transactions without ever making a fresh wallet backup.
BlockedCase description
A Bitcoin-Qt user made over 100 transactions without ever making a fresh wallet backup. The original wallet backup held only the first 100 pre-generated keys. Keys generated after the backup date were not saved. When the drive failed, transactions involving the newer keys were unrecoverable.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Seed phrase unavailable |
| Custody system | Mobile or software wallet |
| Outcome | Blocked |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2012 |
| Country | Unknown |
Structural dependencies observed
What this illustrates
There was no documentation of how access worked. Without it, there was no path back in. Access was not recoverable.
Outcome interpretation
Access was not 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
569 cases involve mobile or software wallet
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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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