Trending Now - Irish Authorities Unlock Long-lost Wallet With 500 Bitcoin

WHO:

Irish police

A convicted drug dealer (name not specified)

WHAT:

The Bitcoin wallet had been inaccessible for seven years due to missing private keys.

The value of the 500 Bitcoin is approximately $35 million.

Irish police transferred 500 Bitcoin from a crypto wallet

The Bitcoin was previously thought to be inaccessible due to lost wallet keys

The 500 Bitcoin was transferred to Coinbase

WHERE:

Ireland

WHEN:

The transfer occurred on Tuesday, March 24th, 2026

WHY:

The wallet is linked to a large-scale drug case from 2019.

The wallet was tied to a convicted drug dealer, and the keys were believed to be lost

HOW:

The unlocking of the wallet opens the possibility of recovering a significant amount of Bitcoin from other seized wallets.

Irish authorities successfully unlocked the crypto wallet after years of being unable to access it

(UPDATED March 26, 2026 05:33 UTC)

A Bitcoin wallet that had been inaccessible for seven years due to missing private keys has now been unlocked, revealing approximately $35 million worth of 500 Bitcoin. This wallet is connected to a large-scale drug case from 2019, and its unlocking could lead to the recovery of a significant amount of Bitcoin from other seized wallets. The development marks a notable moment in the ongoing efforts to trace and reclaim assets linked to criminal activities.

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(UPDATED March 26, 2026 00:35 UTC)

On Tuesday, March 24, 2026, Irish police successfully transferred 500 Bitcoin from a previously inaccessible crypto wallet linked to a convicted drug dealer. The authorities managed to unlock the wallet after years of being unable to access it, and the Bitcoin was subsequently sent to Coinbase. This significant development comes after the keys to the wallet were believed to be lost, raising questions about the recovery process.