Here’s an easy-to-understand article on this remarkable Casascius bar story with image highlights:
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🔑 Crypto User Moves 100 BTC from Casascius Bar After 13 Years
A crypto enthusiast, using the pseudonym “John Galt,” has finally moved 100 Bitcoin (BTC) from a physical Casascius bar to a hardware wallet, more than 13 years after buying it in 2012 for just $500 .
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📜 What Are Casascius Bars?
Manufactured between 2011–2013 by Mike Caldwell, Casascius bars combine collectibility and functionality: each is embedded with a real Bitcoin private key hidden under a tamper-evident hologram .
After FinCEN regulations in 2013, production stopped, and these bars became rare collectibles—especially high-denomination types like the 100 BTC gold bar.
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💰 From $500 to $10M+
John Galt purchased this 100 BTC bar when BTC was below $100.
As of May 13, 2025, with Bitcoin trading around $104k, his bar was worth over $10 million—a life-changing return .
He described the emotional difficulty:
> “Redeeming it felt like destroying a piece of history… I’d rather sold it whole with the sticker… but the higher the value, the harder that got.”
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🛡️ Why Switch to a Wallet?
A single physical bar holding millions is risky to store.
Moving the BTC into a hardware wallet—spread across multiple addresses—is a safer choice .
He emphasized:
> “This was more about staying safe than suddenly getting rich.”
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⚠️ Forked Coins & Public Key Exposure
He inadvertently revealed the mini-key seed on a BitcoinTalk forum, which allowed someone to scoop up over $50,000 worth of Bitcoin Cash (BCH) and possibly BSV .
However, the main 100 BTC was safely transferred out beforehand.
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📈 Bigger Picture & Rarity
Only a few 100 BTC bars remain sealed today—about 35 of them, plus rare 500–1000 BTC versions, remaining unclaimed .
Many early adopters are now redeeming physical bitcoins for digital security—highlighting the importance of modern storage methods.
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📌 Key Takeaways
Insight Highlight
Epic ROI 100 BTC jumped from ~$500 to ~$10M—~2,000,000% gain
Physical to digital shift Moving from a physical bar to a secure hardware wallet indicates a maturing storage practice
Lessons in safety Don’t house a fortune in one physical object—spread digital assets across secure wallets
Historical value vs usability Holding unredeemed collectibles has sentimental appeal, but practical security ultimately wins
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🧭 Final Thoughts
This story connects crypto history with modern asset security. Casascius bars are iconic relics, but once their embedded keys become valuable—especially amidst million-dollar valuation—they need to be redeemed and secured properly.
John Galt’s decision reflects a broader movement: as Bitcoin matures, even storied physical treasures are giving way to hardware wallets and best security practices.
Want a cha
rt of Casascius redemption trends, or details on how to redeem one safely? Just let me know!