Wife discovers husband's hidden Bitcoin during divorce proceeding

[LittleBitFunny]

Hi guys!
I have come across a topic here that emphasized on the need to disclose one's Bitcoin dealings and seed phrase to his/her spouse incase something bad and unexpected like death comes knocking on the door, the husband or wife can have access to the funds and claim it.

Well... This story is quite different. A husband hid his crypto assets from his wife amid divorce saga, the wife had her suspicion, then hired a forensic expert who found out that during the splitting of the property, the husband failed to declared his 12 BTC stashed somewhere in an undisclosed wallet. She's now asking that the Bitcoin be splitted into two.

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2023/05/20/bitcoin-in-divorce-how-spouses-hide-assets-crypto-hunters-find-them.html

Looks like some of the married folks are getting smarter... They don't want to be left in the dark, but are going out to get it themselves through crypto hunters. What's your thoughts on this?

even How smarter he is , still he did not managed to Hid everything from His wife lol .

Bitcoin is the best place to hide everything from another party even if this is our wife/husband but the way I see this? it looks like they are having a problem long ago this is why hiding happens .

because if they are not facing issues , i see no reason why they need to come across this case.

Me and my wife has no problem about me holding bitcoin and this saves us from any money issues because she knew that everything in my holding is for Her and our children .

It's terrible to have decided to get married, but we live in suspicion, hiding from each other. For those who are supporting this guy and if you are not married, you should carefully consider what your purpose of marriage is because when you are married, you will always trust and share everything with each other. Greed and lies have no place in marriage, and that will make your marriage soon break up.

I also hold a lot of bitcoin, but it's not something I value more than my wife and kids. If I lose them, I will never find them, but with bitcoin, as long as I keep working hard, owning bitcoins is too easy.

[YUriy1991]

Very interesting to follow regarding the distribution of assets, including crypto assets such as Bitcoin. I think this can be a complex issue as well. If an asset is not disclosed during the divorce process and is discovered later it can affect the process of sharing the property together.

My point of view, in seeing this, I see more about the next journey after which if they have family members, in this case they have children. I think this step is right in the context even though the wife is from among those who are proficient or not familiar with crypto and it is worth fighting for and done fairly because it will help meet the needs of their children. they also have rights, for example the smallest right to get a proper education up to university.

[Victorik]

Personally, I find this story very interesting and I would appreciate if you can keep us posted.
However, I think this will be a very tough but for the judge to crack. What if the man deny ownership of this BTC.
 Bottom line is that this case can go either way.

The case is very complicated one ,  bitcoin and blockchain is so different from from fiat and the banking system that has people's full details and identity in the system.  Blockchain can only give details of transactions but can't give full identity of anyone,. The man can actually deny ownership of the wallet because their is no evidence to prove that the wallet belongs to him.

 So in this case it will be difficult for the woman to claim a share from it. She can only share physical properties of her husband own by his name.
 From this case I can see another benefit of bitcoin which the law do not have power or judgment over it. Their is no evidence that the husband own the wallet. She can only share his money that is in the bank or other investment with prove that is backed with the court of law.

My thoughts exactly. There's no evidence to prove that the Bitcoin belongs to the man because unlike a bank account that carry you name, I am sure the wallet doesn't bear the man's name and as such you can't really pin it to him.
She can't really win this. But I wonder why people just want to be greedy.

[Victorik]

Wow, that’s a fascinating story. I think hiding crypto assets from one’s spouse is dishonest and unfair, especially during a divorce. I also think that spouses should have some knowledge of each other’s crypto dealings and seed phrases, in case of emergencies or inheritance issues.

A very fascinating story indeed. But I don't think hiding crypto currency from one's spouse is dishonesty.
You can't just go about announcing to your wife or husband that I just bought this or that coin. sometimes, you might not even consider it necessary to relate such information to them, not because you want to cheat them.

[Xampeuu]

Very interesting to follow regarding the distribution of assets, including crypto assets such as Bitcoin. I think this can be a complex issue as well. If an asset is not disclosed during the divorce process and is discovered later it can affect the process of sharing the property together.

My point of view, in seeing this, I see more about the next journey after which if they have family members, in this case they have children. I think this step is right in the context even though the wife is from among those who are proficient or not familiar with crypto and it is worth fighting for and done fairly because it will help meet the needs of their children. they also have rights, for example the smallest right to get a proper education up to university.

during this process, of course, there will be a distribution of assets, but currently many countries have not legalized bitcoin, so if you still use cryptocurrency, the law will be weak. but before entering into that realm of course there will be mediation between husband and wife, moreover if you have children, of course both parents will still love their children, and this can be useful for their children's future. it is difficult in such a situation, but of course all problems will have a way out, so both of them have to lower their respective egos

[tokentitan]

This is why you do not disclose your crypto stash to someone else, not even your spouse unless you trust them with your life or you believe that they aren't with you just for the money. The last one is very difficult to prove especially nowadays that a lot of people only want to exist and be showered with affection and pampered with material things. That is why I do not really agree to speed dating up to a marriage, not unless you know your soon-to-be spouse since childhood and you are sure that they won't flip the switch if it ever comes to that.

Hopefully though, the husband gets to keep whatever crypto he has for himself. It's bullshit that your spouse get to keep half of what you built way even before you guys met while the other doesn't really help add any value to your life in case you get separated.

100% agree there is nothing as a perfect love and soul mate, so be wiser and do not disclose everything especially your mobile and finances. Show some extra affection and they want to control your life itself. Money is power it should be in your pocket not your wifes pocket.
When it comes to personal gains even childhood buddies are known to hoodwink you. Do not believe me? Just browse Google News.
Else one learns the harder way. So better stay safe stay single.

[GideonGono]

Good thing about Bitcoin is that there is no way for others to prove that it is ours unless we also say it and show then the wallet to access it.
But if we won't then how would they know? how would they prove it? we could just use another person that we truly trust to open it and say that it is their investment.

[KiaKia]

Good thing about Bitcoin is that there is no way for others to prove that it is ours unless we also say it and show then the wallet to access it.
But if we won't then how would they know? how would they prove it? we could just use another person that we truly trust to open it and say that it is their investment.

With the way this story goes, it look like the man already told his wife about the Bitcoin somewhere when things where still going smooth between the two, sometimes men have lose their mouth when they are comfortable with the woman in their life, he would have never thought that divorce will happen one day.

It feels bad having to hide something from someone you claimed to love, the guilt will take over your mind but it looks like having to live with the guilt is way better than someone taking your hard-earned Bitcoin from you because you both decide to go your separate ways.

To keep financial secrets or not from your family or partner is a choice, let's hope whatever we chooses to do favours us in the end, divorces can happen to anybody, I don't pray for people's home to go wrong but there is always a possibility of anything happening.

[tokentitan]

I am not trying to destroy people's marriages but I've never for once like the idea of letting people know your real worth, and this includes your spouse, not until you are so sure that your spouse are for real, I mean, a man knows his family more than anyone, but that's not always the case, if you are the one that got married to someone after you already in money you have to be cautious, maybe what you had isn't for real, you won't know, ladies of today get married not because of love but because of what they can achieve from marrying the man, if you have to come into the light with your wife about your worth, make sure it's the one third of your worth..

I see everything wrong in someone pretending to love someone just to be able to take over their properties, this is why I don't want to leave this country and go to US because this is very common in the US, I can't live with myself sharing my properties with someone that have pretend to love me all this while, it's never going to happen on my watch.

Here in India in Matrimonial the main criteria is a persons take home salary. It does not matter how soft spoken is he or if he is a drunkard or womanizer. If he is rich then people consider themselves lucky that she got a perfect match.
If you want to know how much your wife loves you just come home and say you lost your job.
 

[eightdots]

Hi guys!
I have come across a topic here that emphasized on the need to disclose one's Bitcoin dealings and seed phrase to his/her spouse incase something bad and unexpected like death comes knocking on the door, the husband or wife can have access to the funds and claim it.

Well... This story is quite different. A husband hid his crypto assets from his wife amid divorce saga, the wife had her suspicion, then hired a forensic expert who found out that during the splitting of the property, the husband failed to declared his 12 BTC stashed somewhere in an undisclosed wallet. She's now asking that the Bitcoin be splitted into two.

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2023/05/20/bitcoin-in-divorce-how-spouses-hide-assets-crypto-hunters-find-them.html

Looks like some of the married folks are getting smarter... They don't want to be left in the dark, but are going out to get it themselves through crypto hunters. What's your thoughts on this?

As a result, even if the man has bitcoin, it is an asset and must be shared. Hiding property from your spouse in divorces is a very common mistake. According to some, it is not wrong, I will not argue about it. One of the newer methods is to store assets in crypto. There are many people who go unnoticed in this way and do not give half of their property to their spouses. I think this is wrong. In case of divorce, the courts may request a declaration of property from the stock exchanges. In this way, some mistakes or potential grievances can be avoided.

[Crptomagma]

Well for me disclosing your Bitcoin phrase to your spouse is not a bad idea if there is this trust and understanding but then in terms of this your story of sharing his Bitcoin for divorce purposes simply because the wife hired some forensic experts is a weak step for me because there is no evidence. So if he shares it he just wanted not because of anything else.

[bitzizzix]

I think a lot depends on the kind of relationship and marriage people have. Some marriages are simply unstable, full of conflict. Some work out of convenience, mutual comfort but not mutual love or trust. So, of course, if total trust isn't a part of one's marriage, then disclosing one's BTC funds probably isn't a good idea.
From the article, it seems that what happens now depends on the state legislation, as some states have the policy of 50% of assets acquired during marriage going to a spouse, but others may not. Bitcoin is considered a digital asset (at least, by the IRS), so the court might actually oblige him to share 6 BTC.

In this case, the woman has clearly taken advantage on his soon to be ex-husband, but that’s how law works in most of the state. What the husband gets, the wife also can take half of it. So in order for this case to be closed, I think it’s a good idea for the husband to send to his wife half of his bitcoin asset. After all, he can start all over again acquiring btc even if that move will really hurt his ego.

According to the law in force which I think most countries or states, that property or objects acquired during marriage are joint property in any form. Meanwhile, the inheritance of each husband and wife, whether from gifts or inheritance, is under the control of each as long as the parties do not specify otherwise.
and obviously in this case and the bitcoin that the man has if he has it during the marriage he should split it in half and equal with his wife and things like a lot happen in any property that seems better to be resolved soon. So he can start again and collect more bitcoins because he has no other burdens and can collect more bitcoins, so that in the future he will be happier in every way with the new one.

[posi]

Well for me disclosing your Bitcoin phrase to your spouse is not a bad idea if there is this trust and understanding ...

Honestly, not only bitcoin, but I share with my wife most of my secrets. I think if one day we don't live together anymore, I will willingly give all my assets to my wife and need nothing. As husband and wife, they need to trust each other, secondly, whoever keeps that property, they also save it for their children. So let's not be too selfish with our wife even after divorce. Bitcoin, after all, is just money and cannot be more important than the sacred husband and wife relationship.

[cydrix]

Although I lack expertise in this area, does she actually understand even half of it? The husband is free to contest his ownership. Unlike other assets where their names are on them, there is no evidence to support his ownership of it. Additionally, can they actually claim their share of his Bitcoin ownership if the wife even seeks the assistance of her attorney? Does their country's law address Bitcoin or other crypto assets when it comes to dividing ownership during a divorce? The husband, in my opinion, has greater power over this. Even yet, it clearly highlights the unhappy aspects of marriage. Both of you will argue about claiming ownerships as if you didn't love one other when you get to the divorce stage. At some point, it seems like everything revolves around money.

[bayudndy]

It seems that during the marriage, the husband seems to have said that he holds the bitcoin property, so it is normal for the wife to want to divide the assets related to them when she divorces. However, the asset is bitcoin, an asset class that is still very complex, and there are not many laws related to it. The husband can transfer his bitcoins to another wallet without anyone knowing. So this is important, whether the husband wants to share the property or not, but I think it is difficult for the law to handle such property. If he's good, he'll give it to his wife; otherwise, there won't be a dime.

[pawanjain]

Hi guys!
I have come across a topic here that emphasized on the need to disclose one's Bitcoin dealings and seed phrase to his/her spouse incase something bad and unexpected like death comes knocking on the door, the husband or wife can have access to the funds and claim it.

Well... This story is quite different. A husband hid his crypto assets from his wife amid divorce saga, the wife had her suspicion, then hired a forensic expert who found out that during the splitting of the property, the husband failed to declared his 12 BTC stashed somewhere in an undisclosed wallet. She's now asking that the Bitcoin be splitted into two.

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2023/05/20/bitcoin-in-divorce-how-spouses-hide-assets-crypto-hunters-find-them.html

Looks like some of the married folks are getting smarter... They don't want to be left in the dark, but are going out to get it themselves through crypto hunters. What's your thoughts on this?

Uhmm Bezos Uhmm !!!

Ofcourse there are people who claim their right on husband's money and they want to suck it up all of it.
In this case, it actually depends on the law and also the fact that the owner of those coins is his husband.
If the person somehow proves it that he doesn't own any coins which I think he can if he is smart then he won't have to giveaway half of his coins.
Besides that, how greedy this woman can be to claim her rights on those BTC.

[Sanitough]

People often say that after marriage, husband and wife should trust each other and be transparent about their assets, but I think there will be a lot of couples who will not follow that. We all have our own secrets that we do not want to reveal, even when husband and wife are together. Some people will say that you are not respectful, but maybe everyone's situation is different and you don't understand anything. So it's best not to comment at all. As for this incident, I see that the decision on whether or not the property is divided depends on whether the husband has it before or after. And it is not wrong for the wife to want to divide the property in half because this is a citizen's right after marriage.

If the husband has gained it before the marriage, the wife has nothing to do with it but if those assets were acquired when already they’re married, then the wife has all the right to take part half of it. However, I can sense in this story that the wife here is really smart. Imagine, he has known it already even if his husband has not declared it. But I pity on the part of the husband because he cannot enjoy all what he’s been working for in the past. Though he can also take half of it, but I can sense that he’s been taken advantage by his wife in this case.

[Viscore]

Me and my wife has no problem about me holding bitcoin and this saves us from any money issues because she knew that everything in my holding is for Her and our children .

That is the logical decision, especially if bitcoin has a clear legal origin. For people who can't prove the origin because for example they mined it in the past and don't have the logs, or bought it P2P paying in hand, or saved it from signature campaigns without declaring them, the issue is a bit more complicated.

In those cases there are people who choose to hide it from his wife because it is something that can be turned against him in a potential divorce case.

That could be the case of the husband here, he acquired his bitcoins maybe when he was still not married so he chose to hide it especially if he sees his wife cannot be trusted with his asset, so it’s better to hide it than to expose it in your wife and could be subject for fighting. But maybe the husband here is not wise enough to hide his bitcoins since his wife has suspected it still. He could have send it to his family or close relatives when the divorce is still ongoing.

[Greg Tonoski]

This is why you do not disclose your crypto stash to someone else,

Apparently, a crypto hunter was hired by the attacker in spite of the crypto stash not being disclosed by the owner. It doesn't seem to be any protection to keep crypto stash secret. Probably, the root cause of the problem lies in attacker attitude and enforcement agencies.

I've never for once like the idea of letting people know your real worth

Why not? Isn't there any situation in which you would like to voluntarily let somebody know your real worth?

I would say the husband failed because he couldn't keep his privacy.

Did he fail if he keeps his bitcoins even though not privately?

[Ayers]

People often say that after marriage, husband and wife should trust each other and be transparent about their assets, but I think there will be a lot of couples who will not follow that. We all have our own secrets that we do not want to reveal, even when husband and wife are together. Some people will say that you are not respectful, but maybe everyone's situation is different and you don't understand anything. So it's best not to comment at all. As for this incident, I see that the decision on whether or not the property is divided depends on whether the husband has it before or after. And it is not wrong for the wife to want to divide the property in half because this is a citizen's right after marriage.

If the husband has gained it before the marriage, the wife has nothing to do with it but if those assets were acquired when already they’re married, then the wife has all the right to take part half of it. However, I can sense in this story that the wife here is really smart. Imagine, he has known it already even if his husband has not declared it. But I pity on the part of the husband because he cannot enjoy all what he’s been working for in the past. Though he can also take half of it, but I can sense that he’s been taken advantage by his wife in this case.

What reason or evidence do you think he was taken advantage of by his wife? I am also a husband, and in this case, I cannot side with the other husband. Simply because even the bitcoin he owned before marriage, he shouldn't keep it hidden from his wife. Apparently, he was selfish to live with and tried to hide his wealth to himself. Maybe that has also affected family feelings because, being called family, it is necessary to respect and trust each other. When you are the family's breadwinner, do you work hard and earn money to get rich? Is it for your family or yourself?