Bitcoin

$2 Billion Worth of Unpeeled Casascius Physical Bitcoins: There’s Less Than 20,000 Coins Left Active

$2 Billion Worth of Unpeeled Casascius Physical Bitcoins: There's Less Than 20,000 Coins Left Active

While bitcoin continues to become more scarce every day, the most popular set of physical bitcoins, crafted by Mike Caldwell from 2011 to 2013, have become far scarcer than their digital counterparts. As of September 18, 2021, there are now less than 20,000 active bitcoins from the Casascius physical bitcoin collection.

Casascius Physical Bitcoin Collection Grows Scarcer

Bitcoin has become a well-known technology and in the early years a number of people and companies deployed concepts called “physical bitcoins.” Essentially, a group or individual would fabricate a coin with the bitcoin symbol etched on it and the coin would also hold digital BTC hidden within the coin’s body.

It’s safe to say that the Casascius physical bitcoin collection created by Mike Caldwell is the most popular collection to date, and these rare physical bitcoins are sold for much more than the face value of the digital bitcoin they hold.

Casascius bitcoins sport a holographic tamper-resistant sticker on one side of the coin, and if the sticker is peeled, the digital bitcoin’s private key is revealed. Caldwell crafted both coins and bars that held loaded bitcoin (BTC) and created series 1 (1-1,000 BTC), series 2 (0.5-500 BTC + the DIY Storage Bars), and series 3 (0.5-1 BTC).

$2 Billion Worth of Unpeeled Casascius Physical Bitcoins: There's Less Than 20,000 Coins Left Active — Casascius physical bitcoins made by Mike Caldwell have gained significant collectible and numismatic value well over the face value of the digital bitcoin loaded on these coins or bars.

Unfortunately, the U.S. government forced Caldwell to stop minting Casascius bitcoins with loaded BTC on them. By the end of Caldwell’s tenure making these coins, he managed to mint around 27,920 Casascius bitcoins with various increments of loaded BTC. Over the years owners have redeemed the loaded value held on these Casascius bitcoins in a process called a “peel.”

On December 23, 2019, Bitcoin.com News reported on a 100 BTC gold bar that was peeled or redeemed. This means the digital BTC value was spent by the owner and the physical bar is empty with zero digital value left. Ten years after the first Casascius bitcoins were minted, there’s under 20K left that are active with loaded BTC.

19,920 Casascius Physical Bitcoins Left to Peel

According to statistics from casasciustracker.com, on September 18, 2021, there’s approximately 19.92K active Casascius bitcoins waiting to be peeled. So far 8,009 coins or bars have been redeemed over the last ten years and there’s approximately 43K BTC left unpeeled worth over $2 billion.

48,169 BTC worth $2.3 billion has been spent by the peel process. Furthermore, there are some lucky owners who still have yet to peel 1,000 BTC bars or coins worth $48 million using today’s exchange rates. For instance, out of the six 1,000 BTC Series 1 Casascius bitcoins, only 2 have been redeemed so far.

In that same series, Caldwell minted 16 1,000 BTC bars and so far 87.50% or 14 bars have been redeemed. There were 81 Series 2 100 BTC coins (worth $4.8M each) minted by Caldwell and to date 47 coins or 58.02% of the BTC has been redeemed from that minted set.

Today, the Casascius physical bitcoin collection has gathered significant numismatic value and the coins and bars are considered coveted bitcoiner collectibles. Even peeled Casascius bitcoins still hold value and some of them are being sold for $1,999 (for a 2012 piece). A loaded silver Casascius physical bitcoin with 0.1 BTC ($4,834) from 2013 is selling for $20,000 today. A rare unloaded set of 125 Casascius physical bitcoins made of aluminum is selling for $4,995.

What do you think about the fact that there are now less than 20,000 Casascius bitcoins left active today? Let us know what you think about this subject in the comments section below.

Tags in this story

100 BTC Bars, 1000 BTC Bars, 20000 Casascius Coins, Bitcoin, Bitcoin economy, BTC, Casascius, Casascius Bars, Casascius Coins, Coins, Cryptocurrency, Digital Currency, Loaded Coins, Mike Caldwell, nostalgia, numismatic value, Physical Bitcoins

Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons, casasciustracker.com

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.

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MEXC launches STORY (IP) launchpool & airdrop+, offering 68,500 IP & 50,000 USDT in bonuses

MEXC, the world’s leading cryptocurrency trading platform, has announced the launch of its Launchpool initiative in collaboration with the renowned blockchain project STORY (IP). This initiative highlights the close partnership between MEXC and STORY, showcasing their joint efforts to expand the STORY network. By introducing two major events—a Launchpool featuring a 60,000 IP reward pool…

MEXC, the world’s leading cryptocurrency trading platform, has announced the launch of its Launchpool initiative in collaboration with the renowned blockchain project STORY (IP).

This initiative highlights the close partnership between MEXC and STORY, showcasing their joint efforts to expand the STORY network. By introducing two major events—a Launchpool featuring a 60,000 IP reward pool and an Airdrop+ offering 8,500 IP plus 50,000 USDT—this collaboration further accelerates the growth of the STORY network while driving innovation in the blockchain space.

MEXC Supports the STORY Network with the Launch of IP Launchpool

In the digital age, traditional intellectual property (IP) management faces growing challenges. Centralized platforms and complicated intermediaries often lead to inefficiencies, high costs, and trust issues for creators. As a Layer 1 blockchain built with Cosmos SDK, STORY combines DeFi and AI technologies to offer automated, transparent, and cost-effective IP management solutions. With full EVM compatibility and a modular architecture, STORY empowers creators to tokenize their IP assets, automate royalties, and simplify licensing processes. MEXC’s support of the STORY network highlights the growing importance of such innovations in blockchain.

As a global leader in digital asset trading, MEXC consistently supports innovative blockchain projects. Its Launchpool initiative with STORY reaffirms this commitment. This collaboration not only strengthens the STORY ecosystem but also empowers global creators and developers to explore the potential of decentralized IP management. MEXC’s broad market coverage and strong liquidity offer the environment for blockchain projects like STORY to thrive and bring new possibilities to the digital economy. By allowing users to stake USDT, MX, and IP tokens to earn rewards, MEXC provides a platform for increased exposure and growth for STORY. Visit the STORY (IP) pre-market page to see this innovation in action.

Celebrate the IP Launchpool & Airdrop+ with a Prize Pool of 68,500 IP & 50,000 USDT

As a pioneer in the cryptocurrency industry, MEXC continues to foster innovation and support emerging blockchain ecosystems. MEXC is hosting two major STORY (IP) events: the Airdrop+ event, running from February 12, 2025, 10: 00 (UTC) to February 26, 2025, 10: 00 (UTC), featuring 8,500 IP plus 50,000 USDT in rewards, and the Launchpool, taking place from February 12, 2025, 10: 00 (UTC) to February 15, 2025, 10: 00 (UTC), with a 60,000 IP reward pool. These initiatives underscore MEXC’s ongoing commitment to advancing blockchain innovation and delivering valuable opportunities to the crypto community.

These activities include:

Event 1: IP Launchpool – Stake USDT, MX & IP to Share 60,000 IP
Event 2: Join Airdrop+ to Share 8,500 IP & 50,000 USDT bonus
- Perk 1: Deposit and Share 5,600 IP (New User Exclusive).
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- Perk 3: Futures Challenge – Trade to Share 50,000 USDT in Futures Bonuses.
- Perk 4: Invite New Users and Share 1,200 IP.

MEXC continues to expand its market share in the centralized exchange space, leveraging its first-mover advantage in listing promising and valuable projects. As one of the leading cryptocurrency exchanges, with its commitment to innovation, user-centric approach, and strategic focus on early-stage token listings, MEXC remains at the forefront of the crypto industry, providing strong access to the rapidly growing blockchain ecosystem.

About MEXC

Founded in 2018, MEXC is committed to being “Your Easiest Way to Crypto”. Serving over 30 million users across 170+ countries, MEXC is known for its broad selection of trending tokens, frequent airdrop opportunities, and low trading fees. Our user-friendly platform is designed to support both new traders and experienced investors, offering secure and efficient access to digital assets. MEXC prioritizes simplicity and innovation, making crypto trading more accessible and rewarding.

MEXC Official Website｜ X ｜ Telegram ｜How to Sign Up on MEXC

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Jailed BTC-e operator Vinnik released in US-Russia prisoner swap

US to release jailed BTC-e operator Alexander Vinnik in a prisoner swap with Russia. Vinnik, arrested in 2017, is part of the exchange that saw Russia release jailed US schoolteacher Marc Fogel. Alexander Vinnik, jailed in the US after being convicted on charges of money laundering, is being released as part of a prisoner swap.…

US to release jailed BTC-e operator Alexander Vinnik in a prisoner swap with Russia.
Vinnik, arrested in 2017, is part of the exchange that saw Russia release jailed US schoolteacher Marc Fogel.

Alexander Vinnik, jailed in the US after being convicted on charges of money laundering, is being released as part of a prisoner swap.

The former operator of the Russian crypto exchange BTC-e will head to Russia after the Kremlin reportedly agreed to an exchange involving US national Marc Fogel.

According to the BBC, the White House confirmed the prisoner exchange,with Trump having spoken to Fogel.The schoolteacher left Russia on Tuesday, Feb. 11.

Who is Vinnik?

Alexander Vinnik, 44, is a crypto kingpin that operated the Bitcoin exchange BTC-e. Authorities arrested Vinnik in 2017 in Greece, with the Department of Justice filing charges of money laundering involving nearly $4 billion.

According to prosecutors, Vinnik allowed cyber criminals to use BTC-e to launder and store proceeds of crimes, including crypto hacks, ransomware attacks and identity theft.

The Russian national’s reign at the helm of the exchange saw him promote the platform to perpetrators of these crimes. US authorities blamed him for the loss of $121 million.

Notably, New Zealand police also seized $90 million from the BTC-e operator.

Vinnik’s guilty plea in May 2024 meant he faced up to 20 years in prison.

The prisoner swap that sees him leave custody comes after his lawyers failed in a previous attempt to have included in other US-Russia prisoner exchanges. One such push involved the deal that saw Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter formerly imprisoned in Russia, released.