Nils Silinevics
Partner · AML & Crypto Compliance · Former FIU Investigator
You did not get hacked. You did not lose your password to a scammer. You just lost access over time — your 2FA app was on a phone you no longer have, your email account was deactivated, or you changed your phone number. Now you cannot log into your exchange account, and the automated recovery process does not work. We help you prove who you are and regain access.
Crypto accounts are designed for security, not for the realities of human life. Over the years, people change phone numbers, lose phones, close email accounts, and forget which exchange they used. Each of these breaks a link in the authentication chain — and without all links, the exchange will not let you in.
The exchange's automated recovery process (usually a "reset password" link sent to your email) fails because the very thing you lost is the thing the process depends on. We bypass the automated process by submitting a manual identity verification request through legal channels.
We prepare a comprehensive identity verification package: your current government-issued ID, a notarized declaration that you are the account holder, and any historical documentation linking you to the account (old emails, transaction confirmations, bank statements showing deposits to the exchange).
If you do not know which exchange you used, we help you identify it through: bank statements (look for exchange deposits), old email accounts (search for exchange names), and blockchain analysis (if you have a wallet address, we can trace where the funds went).
Once the exchange verifies your identity, we coordinate the credential update: new email address, new phone number, new 2FA device. We ensure this is done securely so that no one else can intercept the process.
After access is restored, we advise on proper account security: using an authenticator app (not SMS) for 2FA, saving backup codes securely, and using a hardware security key if the exchange supports it.
If your exchange was acquired or rebranded (e.g., GDAX → Coinbase Pro → Coinbase Advanced, or Binance Jersey → Binance.com), your old account may still exist under the new brand. The credentials may have been migrated automatically, but you may need to go through a new verification process. We help you locate the successor exchange and navigate the migration.
If your exchange has shut down entirely (e.g., Cryptopia, QuadrigaCX, Mt. Gox), the situation is different — you may be a creditor in an insolvency proceeding. We can help you file claims in these proceedings, though recovery is often partial and slow.
Most exchanges have a manual identity verification process for 2FA recovery, but it is often hard to find and slow to process. We submit a formal identity verification request through legal channels, including a notarized declaration and your current ID. Most exchanges can reset 2FA within 1-2 weeks with proper legal documentation.
The exchange will not let you change the email without accessing the current email — a security measure to prevent account takeover. We bypass this by submitting a manual identity verification request that proves you are the account holder, then request an email change to your current address. This typically takes 2-3 weeks.
Yes. We search for clues: old bank statements (look for wire transfers to exchanges), old email accounts (search for exchange names in your inbox), and browser history or password manager entries. If you have any wallet address you remember, we can trace it on the blockchain to see which exchange the funds were sent to.
It depends on the exchange. If it was a regulated exchange that entered insolvency proceedings (like Cryptopia or Mt. Gox), you may be able to file a claim as a creditor and receive partial recovery. If it was an unregulated exchange that simply disappeared, recovery is unlikely. We assess your specific situation and advise on the best course of action.
For straightforward cases (lost 2FA or changed phone with all other credentials intact), 2-3 weeks. For cases involving dead email accounts and multiple credential changes, 4-8 weeks. For cases where you do not know which exchange you used, the timeline depends on how quickly we can identify the exchange — sometimes this takes days, sometimes weeks.
Related resources: If the exchange is threatening account closure during your access recovery, we can fight that too. Read our guide on what to do when your exchange account is frozen. See all complex cases we handle.
All unusual situations we handle beyond standard compliance.
When exchanges threaten closure during access recovery.
What to do when you lose access to your exchange account.
Tell us what happened. A senior crypto compliance lawyer — not a chatbot, not a junior — will read your case and respond within 6 hours. Swiss professional secrecy applies from your first message.