5 Insane Crypto Auctions Incredible Satoshis and Rare Documents

Millions of dollars have been splurged on rare relics from Bitcoin’s history, with some NFT auctions shattering records.
Bitcoin is now a teenager, sparking a surge in demand for memorabilia from the early days of the cryptocurrency. It’s akin to the frenzy that ensues when a first-generation iPod becomes available, leading bidders to shell out $29,000 for sentimental value.
Let’s delve into five of the most significant (and wildest) crypto-related auctions to date.
1. The ‘Buy Bitcoin’ sign
Given that Bitcoin is a digital entity, there aren’t many physical artifacts associated with it. However, there is one notable exception – a piece of paper.
In 2017, during a Congressional hearing on the economy, then Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen cautioned that the U.S. was a long distance away from reaching its 2% inflation target. In the background, a 22-year-old quickly scrawled “Buy Bitcoin” on his legal pad and displayed it to the camera during Yellen’s testimony. The move went viral on social media, causing BTC to surge to $2,398.
Christian Langalis, also known as “Bitcoin Sign Guy,” auctioned off the sign for 16 BTC, valued at about $1 million at the time.
2. An epic sat
The advent of Ordinals has made it possible to number and convert a single satoshi into an NFT, leading to varying degrees of rarity and value among sats.
One of the most coveted sats is the first one mined after a halving event. Only four such sats exist, and the debut sat of the current cycle was sold by ViaBTC for 33.3 BTC, approximately $2.1 million.
3. Extraordinary Ordinals
The hype around NFTs initially centered on the Ethereum blockchain, but with the rise of Ordinals, Bitcoin has emerged as a major player in the digital collectibles market.
In December 2023, Sotheby’s auctioned off BitcoinShrooms, created by Shroomtoshi. Initially estimated to fetch up to $30,000 each, the Shroomtoshis ended up selling for a total of $450,000.
4. Beeple breaks records
No list of significant crypto auctions is complete without mentioning Beeple, the artist who began sharing daily digital art pieces in 2007. His collection of the first 5,000 artworks was minted as an NFT and sold at Christie’s for $69.3 million, setting records for the most valuable digital art piece.
5. Real-life Bitcoin
In recent times, there has been a frenzy surrounding auctions for Casascius coins – physical BTC created in the early 2010s. Each coin contains the private key to a specific amount of Bitcoin, making it a sophisticated form of cold storage.
A brass Casascius 1 Bitcoin coin minted in 2011 fetched $96,000 at Stack’s Bowers Galleries, breaking world records, while a silver coin sold for $102,000.
These auctions signify the continued interest and value associated with Bitcoin memorabilia and digital collectibles in the evolving financial landscape.