Karpeles Recalls Mt. Gox Bonuses as 1,000 Bitcoins Move
Analysis
Price Impact
MedThe movement of two 1,000 btc casascius coins (2,000 btc total), dormant for over 13 years, represents a significant amount of bitcoin ($120m+). while this could potentially indicate a large holder preparing to sell, there's no confirmation of intent, and the market often absorbs such moves.
Trustworthiness
HighThe movement of the coins is verifiable on-chain data, and mark karpelès's statement regarding the mt. gox bonuses is a direct recall.
Price Direction
NeutralWhile 2,000 btc is a notable sum, it's a small fraction of bitcoin's total market cap and daily trading volume. without clarity on whether these funds are moving to an exchange for sale or to new cold storage, a definitive price direction cannot be predicted. the historical context of mt. gox bonuses adds color but isn't a direct market driver.
Time Effect
ShortIf these funds were to be sold, any impact would likely be absorbed relatively quickly by the market. the news itself has an immediate informational impact but does not suggest long-term fundamental changes for bitcoin.
Original Article:
Article Content:
Cover image via U.Today Read U.TODAY on Google News Casascius coins, explained The employee perk Advertisement The movement of two legendary "physical Bitcoins" holding a combined value of over $120 million has attracted some attention on social media. Former Mt. Gox CEO Mark Karpelès has revealed that he once handed out similar, albeit smaller, fortune-holding coins as casual employee bonuses. Casascius coins, explained On Sunday, on-chain sleuths flagged a massive transaction: two 1,000 BTC Casascius coins had moved on the blockchain after sitting dormant for more than 13 years. HOT Stories Karpeles Recalls Mt. Gox Bonuses as 1,000 Bitcoins Move Morning Crypto Report: Ripple CEO Says 'Not True' to Theranos Founder Elizabeth Holmes, Shiba Inu (SHIB) Sees 71% Increase in Trading Activity After New 'Easter Egg' Appears, Tom Lee Reveals 'Crypto Winter' Prediction for 2026 These funds originated from "physical bitcoins." These are tangible gold-plated bars or coins created in the early days of crypto that contain a private key hidden underneath a holographic sticker. Advertisement To spend the funds, the owner must physically peel off the tamper-evident hologram to reveal the key. You Might Also Like Sun, 02/15/2026 - 16:00 '99>98': How Michael Saylor Plans to Move Strategy's Bitcoin Holdings Toward Profit By Gamza Khanzadaev Created by Mike Caldwell between 2011 and 2013, Casascius coins were an attempt to make Bitcoin tangible for face-to-face trading. They are solid brass, gold-plated, or silver rounds and bars. Advertisement Each coin features a "private key" on a card embedded inside the coin, covered by a tamper-resistant hologram. Caldwell stopped minting them in November 2013 after FinCEN notified him that selling pre-funded coins qualified as money transmission. The employee perk Karpelès confirmed that while he didn't hold the massive 1,000 BTC "gold bars." He possessed a significant number of the smaller denominations during Mt. Gox's peak. "I had a bunch of 25 BTC and 1 BTC, yea. Gave these to employees as bonus," Karpelès wrote. When Casascius coins were minted (2011–2013), a 25 BTC coin would have been worth anywhere from $100 to $25,000. Today, a single 25 BTC coin is worth approximately $1.5 million, not counting the massive numismatic premium collectors pay for an unpeeled, pristine physical coin. It remains unknown how many former Mt. Gox staff members kept their physical coins unpeeled. #Bitcoin News