The post BitcoinTalk User Turns $500 to $10M After Unlocking 2012 Bitcoin Bar appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

A BitcoinTalk user just turned a $500 Casascius Bitcoin bar from 2012 into a $10 million fortune. After holding the 100 BTC bar for over a decade, he finally cracked it open, only to lose $40K in Bitcoin Cash within minutes due to a leaked private key.

Here’s what happened behind this rare piece of Bitcoin history.

100 BTC Bar Becomes a Jackpot

Back in 2012, when Bitcoin was still a niche idea traded mostly among tech enthusiasts, JohnGalt got his hands on a Casascius gold bar loaded with 100 BTC. At the time, Bitcoin’s price hovered around $5, so he paid about $500 for it worth almost nothing to most people back then.

But for JohnGalt, it felt special to hold Bitcoin in physical form.

Over the years, he admitted he was tempted many times to sell it. He even tried to auction it a few times but found it hard to part with something so unique. The problem? Not many people trusted buying a physical Bitcoin bar for millions when you could just buy Bitcoin directly.

$10 Million BTC Bar

Fast forward to now, Bitcoin has smashed through $118,000, turning JohnGalt’s 100 BTC into about $10 million. He explained that holding something worth eight figures felt too risky, so he finally decided to crack open the bar and claim his coins.

.article-inside-link {
margin-left: 0 !important;
border: 1px solid #0052CC4D;
border-left: 0;
border-right: 0;
padding: 10px 0;
text-align: left;
}

.entry ul.article-inside-link li {
font-size: 14px;
line-height: 21px;
font-weight: 600;
list-style-type: none;
margin-bottom: 0;
display: inline-block;
}

.entry ul.article-inside-link li:last-child {
display: none;
}

  • Also Read :
  •   Robert Kiyosaki Says, “I Bought Bitcoin at $110K, I Will Buy More on SALE.”
  •   ,

So, he made the tough call: break open the bar, reveal the private key, and move those 100 BTC into his wallet.

That simple action turned a collector’s item back into pure Bitcoin, instantly worth about $10 million.

Exposed Private Key Costs Him $40K

But there was a twist. Because Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash share the same private key system, someone with sharp eyes spotted JohnGalt’s partially exposed private key in a photo he posted online. 

Within nine minutes, they used it to drain about $40,000 worth of Bitcoin Cash before JohnGalt could claim it himself.

.article_register_shortcode {
padding: 18px 24px;
border-radius: 8px;
display: flex;
align-items: center;
margin: 6px 0 22px;
border: 1px solid #0052CC4D;
background: linear-gradient(90deg, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0%, rgba(0, 82, 204, 0.1) 100%);
}

.article_register_shortcode .media-body h5 {
color: #000000;
font-weight: 600;
font-size: 20px;
line-height: 22px;
text-align:left;
}

.article_register_shortcode .media-body h5 span {
color: #0052CC;
}

.article_register_shortcode .media-body p {
font-weight: 400;
font-size: 14px;
line-height: 22px;
color: #171717B2;
margin-top: 4px;
text-align:left;
}
.article_register_shortcode .media-body{
padding-right: 14px;
}

.article_register_shortcode .media-button a {
float: right;
}
.article_register_shortcode .primary-button img{
vertical-align: middle;
width: 20px;
margin: 0;
display: inline-block;
}

@media (min-width: 581px) and (max-width: 991px) {
.article_register_shortcode .media-body p {
margin-bottom: 0;
}
}

@media (max-width: 580px) {
.article_register_shortcode {
display: block;
padding: 20px;
}

.article_register_shortcode img {
max-width: 50px;
}

.article_register_shortcode .media-body h5 {
font-size: 16px;
}

.article_register_shortcode .media-body {
margin-left: 0px;
}

.article_register_shortcode .media-body p {
font-size: 13px;
line-height: 20px;
margin-top: 6px;
margin-bottom: 14px;
}

.article_register_shortcode .media-button a {
float: unset;
}

.article_register_shortcode .secondary-button {
margin-bottom: 0;
}
}

Never Miss a Beat in the Crypto World!

Stay ahead with breaking news, expert analysis, and real-time updates on the latest trends in Bitcoin, altcoins, DeFi, NFTs, and more.

.subscription-options li {
display: none;
}
.research-report-subscribe{
background-color: #0052CC;
padding: 12px 20px;
border-radius: 8px;
color: #fff;
font-weight: 500;
font-size: 14px;
width: 96%;
}
.research-report-subscribe img{
vertical-align: sub;
margin-right: 2px;
}

var templateIds = “6”;
var listOfSubscribed = [];

function subscribed_popupmodal(template_id) {
var templateId = ‘6’;
getAllSubscriberCategoryList([templateId]);
var subcribemodal = window.parent.document.getElementById(‘subscribe-modal-design’);
if (subcribemodal) {
var modalContent = `

`;
subcribemodal.innerHTML = modalContent;
}
subscribe_unsubscribe_status(template_id);
//getAllSubscriberCategoryList(template_id);
}

function toggleSubscription(subscription, template_id) {
var subscriptionCheckbox = document.getElementById(subscription + ‘_’ + template_id);
var li = document.getElementById(subscription + ‘Selected_’ + template_id);
if (subscriptionCheckbox.checked) {
li.classList.add(‘active’);
} else {
li.classList.remove(‘active’);
}
}

function getAllSubscriberCategoryList(getcategoryId) {

jQuery.ajax({
url: ‘https://coinpedia.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php’,
type: ‘GET’,
data: {
action: ‘subscribe_api_ajax_request’,
apiurl: ‘/app/email_newsletter/list’,
},
success: function(response) {
var result = JSON.parse(response.message);

if (result.status === true) {

var idstosubscribed = []
// Populate listOfSubscribed with subscribed category IDs
result.message.forEach(listofcategory => {

if (listofcategory.subscribe_status === 1) {
if (!listOfSubscribed.includes(listofcategory._id)) {

listOfSubscribed.push(listofcategory._id);
}

if (!idstosubscribed.includes(listofcategory.news_cp_category_row_id)) {
idstosubscribed.push(listofcategory.news_cp_category_row_id);
}
}
});

idstosubscribed.forEach(id => {
var subscribeButton = document.getElementById(‘subscribe_’ + id);
var unsubscribeButton = document.getElementById(‘unsubscribe_’ + id);

if (subscribeButton && unsubscribeButton) {
subscribeButton.style.display = ‘none’;
unsubscribeButton.style.display = ‘block’;
var showDownloadReport = document.getElementById(‘download_report’);

if (showDownloadReport) {
showDownloadReport.style.display = ‘block’;
}
}
});
}

},
error: function(xhr, status, error) {
console.error(‘Error:’, error);
}
});
}

function subscribe_unsubscribe_status(getcategoryId) {
var elementTounsubscribe = parent.document.getElementById(‘unsubscribe_’ + getcategoryId);
var elementTosubscribe = parent.document.getElementById(‘subscribe_’ + getcategoryId);
jQuery.ajax({
url: ‘https://coinpedia.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php’,
type: ‘POST’,
data: {
action: ‘subscribe_api_ajax_request’,
apiurl: ‘/app/email_newsletter/list?category_row_id=’ + getcategoryId,
},
success: function(response) {
var result = JSON.parse(response.message);
if (result.status === true) {
parent.jQuery(‘.skeliton-loader-block’).hide();
var hasSubscribeStatusOne = false;
result.message.forEach(subscribeStatus => {
if (listOfSubscribed.includes(subscribeStatus._id) && subscribeStatus.subscribe_status === 1) {
hasSubscribeStatusOne = true;
}
if (subscribeStatus.notification_type === 3) {
parent.document.getElementById(‘monthlySelected_’ + getcategoryId).style.display = ‘block’;
parent.document.getElementById(‘monthly_’ + getcategoryId).setAttribute(‘data-id’, subscribeStatus._id);
if (subscribeStatus.subscribe_status === 1) {
parent.document.getElementById(‘monthly_’ + getcategoryId).checked = true;
}
} else if (subscribeStatus.notification_type === 2) {
parent.document.getElementById(‘weeklySelected_’ + getcategoryId).style.display = ‘block’;
parent.document.getElementById(‘weekly_’ + getcategoryId).setAttribute(‘data-id’, subscribeStatus._id);
if (subscribeStatus.subscribe_status === 1) {
parent.document.getElementById(‘weekly_’ + getcategoryId).checked = true;
}
} else if (subscribeStatus.notification_type === 1) {
parent.document.getElementById(‘dailySelected_’ + getcategoryId).style.display = ‘block’;
parent.document.getElementById(‘daily_’ + getcategoryId).setAttribute(‘data-id’, subscribeStatus._id);
if (subscribeStatus.subscribe_status === 1) {
parent.document.getElementById(‘daily_’ + getcategoryId).checked = true;
}
}
if (subscribeStatus.subscribe_status === 1) {
listOfSubscribed.push(subscribeStatus._id);
}
});
if (hasSubscribeStatusOne) {
elementTosubscribe.style.display = ‘none’;
elementTounsubscribe.style.display = ‘block’;
} else {
elementTosubscribe.style.display = ‘block’;
elementTounsubscribe.style.display = ‘none’;
}
}
},
error: function(xhr, status, error) {
console.error(‘Error:’, error);
}
});
}

function logSelectedSubscriptions(categoryid) {
var unsubscribemodal = document.querySelector(‘.unsubscribed-popup-modal .modal’);
var subscribedmodal = document.querySelector(‘.subscribed-popup-modal .modal’);
unsubscribemodal.innerHTML=”;
subscribedmodal.innerHTML=”;
var selectedSubscriptions = [];
var storeCheckedId = [];
var checkboxes = document.querySelectorAll(‘#subscription-options-‘ + categoryid + ‘ input[type=”checkbox”]’);
var errorMessage = document.getElementById(‘error-message-select’);

// Use a Set to handle unique data-ids
var uniqueSubscribedIds = new Set(listOfSubscribed);

checkboxes.forEach(function(checkbox) {
var dataId = parseInt(checkbox.getAttribute(‘data-id’));
if (checkbox.checked) {

selectedSubscriptions.push(checkbox.id);
storeCheckedId.push(dataId);
} else {

uniqueSubscribedIds.delete(dataId); // Remove unchecked data-id
}
});

// Update listOfSubscribed with unique values
listOfSubscribed = Array.from(uniqueSubscribedIds);

var selectedSubscriptionsString = selectedSubscriptions.join(‘, ‘);
var concatinateSubscribeId = […new Set(storeCheckedId.concat(listOfSubscribed))];

var categoryData = {
‘subscribed_categories’: concatinateSubscribeId
};

var requestSubscriberData = {
action: ‘handle_dynamic_api_request_with_headers’,
security: ‘4bc7182644’,

endpoint: ‘/app/email_newsletter/update_categories’,
token: ”,
data: categoryData
};

jQuery.ajax({
url: ‘https://coinpedia.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php’,
type: ‘POST’,
data: requestSubscriberData,
beforeSend: function(xhr) {
xhr.setRequestHeader(‘X-Requested-With’, ‘XMLHttpRequest’);
},
success: function(response) {
try {
response = response.data;

if (storeCheckedId.length === 0) {
var unsubcribedPopUpmodal =

`

`;
unsubscribemodal.innerHTML = unsubcribedPopUpmodal;
document.querySelector(‘#subscribe-modal-design .modal’).style.display = ‘none’;
unsubscribemodal.style.display = ‘block’;
unsubscribemodal.classList.remove(‘hide’);
unsubscribemodal.classList.add(‘show’);
document.getElementById(‘subscribe_’ + categoryid).style.display = ‘block’;
document.getElementById(‘unsubscribe_’ + categoryid).style.display = ‘none’;
var showDownloadReport = document.getElementById(‘download_report’);
if (showDownloadReport) {
showDownloadReport.style.display = ‘none’;
}

} else {

var subscribedPopupModal =

`

FAQs

What is BitcoinTalk?

BitcoinTalk is one of the oldest and most prominent online forums dedicated to Bitcoin, cryptocurrencies, and blockchain technology. Founded by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2009, it serves as a central hub for discussions, development updates, and community engagement in the crypto space.

What is a Casascius Bitcoin bar?

A Casascius Bitcoin bar is a physical collectible that contains a specific amount of Bitcoin (e.g., 100 BTC) with its private key hidden under a tamper-evident hologram, created in the early days of Bitcoin.

What is the significance of this Casascius Bitcoin bar story?

This story highlights the immense long-term value appreciation of Bitcoin, the risks associated with physical crypto storage, and the critical importance of keeping private keys absolutely secure and private.

Author