Bitcoin Rediscovered: Kevin Durant’s Long-Lost Crypto Account
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NBA Star Kevin Durant’s Bitcoin Odyssey
In a fascinating twist of fate, NBA superstar Kevin Durant has successfully regained access to a dormant Coinbase account that lay untouched for nearly a decade. Unlike tales of Bitcoin lost in landfills, this account was buried deep within the intricate workings of the blockchain. Reports indicate that Durant, along with his business partner Rich Kleiman, finally accessed the account after it had been inactive since 2016.
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The account’s origin dates back to a dinner in 2016, where Bitcoin was a hot topic of conversation. Despite the initial excitement, both Durant and Kleiman found themselves locked out of the account until recent developments allowed them to retrieve it. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong took to X to confirm the successful recovery.
Challenges with Lost Credentials
The root of the issue stemmed from something as mundane as forgotten login details. Kleiman attributed the problem to “user error,” which meant that the Bitcoin remained untouched even as the cryptocurrency market experienced significant fluctuations. Back in 2016, Bitcoin was trading at roughly $600 per coin, a stark contrast to its soaring value in 2025, which exceeded $117,000 per coin.
“We got this fixed. Account recovery complete!” — Brian Armstrong (@brian_armstrong) September 19, 2025
Due to their inability to log in, Durant and Kleiman did not access or sell the holdings, effectively keeping the position static as Bitcoin’s market value skyrocketed over the years. The specific number of coins contained within the account and their total current value remain undisclosed.
Verification of the Recovery
According to reports, Coinbase’s team collaborated with Durant’s representatives to navigate the account recovery process. Brian Armstrong’s post on X served as public confirmation of the successful recovery. Kleiman also emphasized that the matter was primarily administrative rather than technical, indicating that standard identity verification and support procedures were employed.
While the exact steps taken during the recovery remain undisclosed, and Coinbase has not provided a detailed timeline, this has led to speculation about the duration of the process and the documentation required to regain access after such a lengthy period of inactivity.
Durant’s journey into the realm of cryptocurrencies began at a 2016 dinner hosted by venture capitalist Ben Horowitz, where the conversation frequently turned to Bitcoin, ultimately inspiring Durant and Kleiman to create the Coinbase account that would later capture headlines.
The Unanswered Questions
Despite the successful recovery, several critical details remain shrouded in mystery. Neither Durant nor Kleiman has revealed the number of Bitcoins stored in the account, and the initial investment amount remains undisclosed. However, given Bitcoin’s low price of $600 per coin at the time of purchase, any holdings would have significantly appreciated in value by today’s standards.
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