An auction of idiosyncratic belongings from Silk Road laminitis Ross Ulbricht has brought successful much than $1.8 cardinal worthy of Bitcoin arsenic collectors vied for pieces of crypto history.
Ulbricht, who was pardoned by erstwhile President Donald Trump earlier this year, offered a scope of items done Bitcoin-only marketplace Scarce City.
The postulation included idiosyncratic effects from earlier his 2013 apprehension — specified arsenic a sleeping bag, backpack, and drum — arsenic good arsenic situation memorabilia similar a lock, notebook, clothing, and respective paintings created portion incarcerated.
“I’ve near Arizona, the authorities wherever I was successful prison. It’s clip to travel. That means downsizing and turning the page,” Ulbricht wrote connected the auction page. “I don’t request the reminders and I’m definite immoderate of you volition emotion to person them.”
Related: Is the pardoned Silk Road laminitis getting much progressive successful US politics?
Ulbricht’s last situation ID paper fetches 11 BTC
One of the standout pieces, Ulbricht’s last situation ID card, fetched 11 BTC — implicit $1.1 cardinal astatine existent prices. “The defender tried to get maine to halt smiling for the photo, but my joyousness comes from within,” Ulbricht commented. “So I smiled that day, adjacent though I was successful prison.”
A collaborative coating by Ulbricht and a chap captive known arsenic “Omega” besides drew attention, securing a winning bid of 1.01 BTC. “It gave maine the feeling that, if I could walk done it, thing amended would beryllium connected the different side,” Ulbricht said of the artwork.
In bid to enactment successful the auction, Bidders had to deposit 1% of their bid arsenic collateral. Last-minute bids besides reset the countdown timer to guarantee just competition.
Final payments indispensable beryllium completed by June 2, with Bitcoin (BTC) preferred, though smaller PayPal payments were besides accepted.
Related: Ross Ulbricht-tied crypto wallets suffer $12M successful memecoin misstep: Arkham
Millions successful Dormant Bitcoin
In summation to raising $1.8 cardinal from the auction and receiving significant assemblage donations, Ulbricht whitethorn person entree to millions successful Bitcoin.
Coinbase manager Conor Grogan precocious highlighted that astir 430 BTC, presently valued astatine astir $47 million, stay successful wallets apt tied to Ulbricht. These wallets person been inactive for implicit 13 years and were ne'er seized by authorities.
“I recovered ~430 BTC crossed dozens of wallets associated with Ross Ulbricht that were not confiscated by the [US government] and person been untouched for 13+ years,” Grogan shared connected X.
Blockchain analytics steadfast Arkham Intelligence confirmed Grogan’s assessment, tracing 14 Bitcoin addresses connected to Silk Road. One of these wallets unsocial holds much than $9 cardinal successful BTC.