Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-01179
Platform bankruptcy — exchange custody (2023)
SurvivesCase description
Bittrex Global—the non-US arm of Bittrex that had continued operating while the US entity went through bankruptcy—announced in early December 2023 that it was ceasing all operations, giving customers a short window to withdraw. Customers who were unaware of the announcement or who missed the withdrawal window faced a second claims process. The Liechtenstein and Bermuda-regulated entity's wind-down, separate from the US bankruptcy, required a different set of customer actions and documentation.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Vendor lockout |
| Custody system | Exchange custody |
| Outcome | Survives |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2023 |
| Country | International |
Structural dependencies observed
Outcome interpretation
Access remained possible under the reported conditions.
Source
Publicly Reported
Evidence type
News article
Related cases involving vendor lockout
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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