Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has confirmed that NBA superstar Kevin Durant has finally regained access to his Coinbase account, which had been locked for almost ten years.
Armstrong disclosed this on Thursday through his official page on X, where he quoted a popular cryptocurrency platform that reported the update.
@BTC_Archive had posted:
“NEW: NBA star Kevin Durant invested in Bitcoin in 2016 but was locked out of his Coinbase account until this week. 🚨 BTC was $650 then, now $117K, up 180x. A $10K buy would be worth $1.8 MILLION today. 🔥.”
Confirming the report, Armstrong responded, “We got this fixed. Account recovery complete!”
Durant, one of the NBA’s most celebrated athletes, first ventured into cryptocurrency in 2016, when Bitcoin was trading at just around $650. His interest in crypto came at a time when mainstream adoption was still in its infancy.
By 2017, Durant’s involvement deepened through investment partnerships, including with his venture capital firm Thirty Five Ventures, which has backed several tech and crypto-related startups.
In 2021, Coinbase signed Durant to a multi-year promotional and investment deal, making him one of the platform’s most recognisable celebrity partners. The agreement included ad campaigns, charitable initiatives, and community programs supported through Durant’s foundation.
Had Durant maintained a $10,000 Bitcoin investment from 2016, his holdings would now be worth about $1.8 million at today’s price of $117,000 per BTC.
Durant’s account recovery comes at a time when Coinbase is pushing for stronger global recognition amid increasing regulation of cryptocurrency markets.
For many crypto enthusiasts, the story is symbolic, not only of Bitcoin’s meteoric rise but also of how early adopters like Durant have been part of the industry’s history.
