Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-01183
Platform bankruptcy — FTX (2023)
IndeterminateCase description
FTX creditors in October 2023 faced a claims deadline for submitting proofs of claim in the bankruptcy. The process required logging into a claims portal, verifying identity, and submitting detailed account information. International creditors reported technical difficulties accessing the US-hosted portal, language barriers in navigating English-only legal documentation, and time zone challenges in reaching bankruptcy administration support. Creditors who missed the deadline risked having their claims barred permanently.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Vendor lockout |
| Custody system | Exchange custody |
| Outcome | Indeterminate |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2023 |
| Country | United States |
Structural dependencies observed
What this illustrates
Getting access back required help from an institution — and that help wasn't available. It's not clear whether anyone ever regained access.
Outcome interpretation
Not enough information is available to determine the outcome.
Source
Publicly Reported
Evidence type
News article
Evidence link
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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