Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-01033
The Bitcoin, acquired in 2020 during the initial lockdown period, was permanently
BlockedCase description
A Bitcoin mobile wallet user lost access to their funds in 2022 when their phone was stolen and simultaneously discovered they had not backed up their seed phrase. The wallet had prompted the user multiple times to record the recovery phrase but the user had dismissed the prompts. With the phone wiped remotely via Find My Device, the wallet data was erased and no recovery path remained. The Bitcoin, acquired in 2020 during the initial lockdown period, was permanently inaccessible.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Seed phrase unavailable |
| Custody system | Mobile or software wallet |
| Outcome | Blocked |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2022 |
| Country | International |
Structural dependencies observed
What this illustrates
Recovery needed someone with specialized technical knowledge who wasn't available. Access was not recoverable.
Outcome interpretation
Access was not possible under the reported conditions.
Source
Privately Reported
Evidence type
News article
Related cases involving seed phrase unavailable
146 cases involve seed phrase unavailable
572 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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