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<h3 id="key-takeaways">Key Takeaways</h3><ul><li>An original 25-bitcoin Casascius physical coin minted between 2011 and 2013 had its security hologram peeled off earlier this week.</li><li>The coin contained 25 BTC valued at approximately $1.78 million, which were accessed on-chain for the first time in more than twelve years.</li><li>The transaction appeared in Bitcoin block 952,159, processed by AntPool, with a minimal network fee of $2.79.</li><li>On-chain records reveal that only 0.01 BTC was transferred out — leaving 24.99 BTC at the original address, indicating the owner likely performed a security test.</li><li>This redemption coincides with heightened dormant Bitcoin movement, including another 2011 wallet that transferred 35 BTC after 15 years of inactivity.</li></ul><p>A physical <a href="https://coincentral.com/bitcoin-btc-price-falls-below-62k-as-etf-outflows-top-1-billion-and-liquidations-surge/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Bitcoin</a> token valued at $1.78 million was unsealed this week after remaining untouched for more than a decade — here’s the full story and why it’s capturing attention across the crypto community.</p><div class="embed-x"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>BREAKING: Rare Bitcoin physical coin worth $1.78M has been accessed and funds moved to a new wallet <a href="https://t.co/pwQUh09NVf" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">pic.twitter.com/pwQUh09NVf</a></p><p>— Bitcoin Archive (@BitcoinArchive) <a href="https://x.com/BitcoinArchive/status/2062265118444908615?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">June 3, 2026</a></p></blockquote></div><h3 id="understanding-casascius-physical-bitcoins">Understanding Casascius Physical Bitcoins</h3><p>Casascius physical coins were innovative collectibles produced by software developer Mike Caldwell from 2011 through 2013. Each piece contained an actual <a href="https://coincentral.com/bitcoin-btc-casinos/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Bitcoin</a> private key concealed beneath a tamper-proof holographic sticker affixed to its reverse side.</p><p>These collectibles were manufactured in various denominations, from 0.5 BTC up to 1,000 BTC. Caldwell produced under 20 units of the 1,000 BTC denomination — each worth approximately $66 million based on today’s valuation.</p><p>These coins represented an innovative cold storage solution during an era before dedicated hardware wallets became available. Manufacturing materials ranged from brass alloy to gold-plated precious metal bars.</p><p>Caldwell ceased production in late 2013 following intervention by the U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, which informed him that his operation constituted unlicensed money transmission.</p><h3 id="details-of-the-unsealing-event">Details of the Unsealing Event</h3><p>On June 2, someone peeled the holographic security seal from a 25-bitcoin Casascius coin originally minted during the 2011–2013 production run. The corresponding transaction received confirmation in Bitcoin block 952,159, which was mined by AntPool.</p><p>The network fee for the redemption totaled only $2.79 — an insignificant cost to unlock access to $1.78 million worth of Bitcoin.</p><p>The redemption process is simple yet permanent. Removing the hologram exposes a private key printed on an internal card. The holder then imports this key into a Bitcoin wallet to access the funds. Once the holographic seal is broken, it leaves behind a distinctive honeycomb pattern, permanently destroying the coin’s collectible value.</p><p>Blockchain tracking data identified by Galaxy Research indicates the holder only sent 0.01 BTC to a separate address. The bulk of the funds — 24.99 BTC — remained at the original Casascius address.</p><p>This pattern strongly suggests the owner was verifying the private key’s functionality rather than executing a complete fund transfer.</p><h3 id="collectible-value-of-unbroken-coins">Collectible Value of Unbroken Coins</h3><p>Untouched Casascius coins generally command prices exceeding their Bitcoin face value. Collectors routinely pay significant premiums for physical pieces with intact holographic seals.</p><p>By breaking the seal, the owner essentially transformed a potentially more valuable collectible artifact into liquid Bitcoin. Thousands of Casascius coins across all denominations remain unredeemed to this day.</p><p>The Casascius initiative also spawned additional physical Bitcoin manufacturers, including Lealana, Denarium, and BTCC. However, Casascius continues to dominate the collector market.</p><h3 id="recent-dormant-bitcoin-activity">Recent Dormant Bitcoin Activity</h3><p>This unsealing event occurred during a noteworthy period for ancient Bitcoin wallets. A different wallet dating to 2011 transferred 35 BTC after remaining inactive for 15 years.</p><p>The individual who redeemed the Casascius coin has not been publicly identified.</p><p>At the moment of redemption, Bitcoin was trading around $65,219 — representing a 3.3% decline over the previous 24 hours.</p><p>The post <a href="https://blockonomi.com/collector-unseals-1-78m-casascius-physical-bitcoin-after-12-year-dormancy/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Collector Unseals $1.78M Casascius Physical Bitcoin After 12-Year Dormancy</a> appeared first on <a href="https://blockonomi.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Blockonomi</a>.</p>

Collector Unseals $1.78M Casascius Physical Bitcoin After 12-Year Dormancy

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