Since the start of the year, data shows about 432 Casascius physical bitcoins have been cracked open and redeemed-revealing roughly 1,100 BTC inside, valued at more than $119 million using today’s exchange rates. Even after all that peeling action, over 38,000 BTC-worth north of $4 billion-remain sealed within 17,746 active Casascius coins, still holding their cryptographic treasures.
The Great Casascius Heist 🎬 (No, Wait, It’s a Time-Traveling Tightrope Act!) 🪄
Casascius bitcoins are shiny metal relics from BTC’s hair-metal era, minted by Mike Caldwell between 2011 and 2013 to embody real bitcoin tucked inside each coin. Beneath a tamper-evident hologram lies a secret private key-the golden ticket to the coin’s digital fortune once peeled. (Spoiler: The key might look like a kombucha cap… or a cursed scroll. 🤷♂️)
They came in denominations of 1, 10, 25, 100, 500, and 1,000 BTC, as coins and bars, and doubling as both offline vaults and collector trophies. Production came to a halt in 2013 when U.S. regulators started side-eyeing the project like, “BTC is NOT a crypto souvenir!” 🚔 turning surviving Casascius coins into prized crypto antiques. Moreover, out of all the coins he produced, Caldwell added 91,254 BTC onto these physical pieces. (Welcome to 2011, where crypto felt like a Mario Kart race… and regulators were Bowser in disguise. 🏁🍂)
Data from casasciustracker.com gives onchain analysts a peek into how many Casascius coins are still roaming free-and just how much BTC remains locked inside those gleaming physical coins and bars.
So far this month, ten Casascius physical units got peeled like golden onions between Oct. 1 and Oct. 7, 2025, revealing a total of eight full bitcoins and two half-BTC pieces. The earliest redemption hit on Oct. 1 from a Series 2 COIN-1-2012, followed by a steady streak of reveals-three more that day, two on Oct. 3, one on Oct. 6, and the rest on Oct. 7. (Plot twist: Someone cried because they forgot where they buried the coin. 🪦)
Each coin traced its roots back to the early 2010s, spanning Series 1, 2, and 3 editions minted between October 2011 and August 2013. Most were one-bitcoin brass tokens, but two silver “S3-COIN-0.5-AG” pieces from August 2013 also met their fate. By the time the unpeeling spree ended on Oct. 7, all ten were officially marked “Redeemed,” empty balances and all. (And the coins whispered, “You’ll never take my coins, Jack Sparrow!” 🏴☠️)
There’s been a chronicle of Casascius coin redemptions over the years, showing a steady decline in active coins as collectors and holders gradually peeled their treasures. The redemption waves were especially lively between 2012 and 2014, when hundreds of coins were cracked open in bursts, while later years have seen a much slower, more methodical pace. (Think of it as crypto’s version of the wild west… minus the horses and plus the existential dread.)
By late Oct. 19, 2025, 10,193 Casascius pieces had been redeemed cumulatively, leaving just 17,746 units still active-tiny relics of bitcoin’s tangible past. At the time of writing, a total of 38,051 BTC (worth $4.14B) are still sealed inside, while 53,213 BTC (worth $5.8B) have been claimed from their shiny shells. Casasciustracker.com data indicates that Series 1 coins still shine as the originals, but plenty have been cracked open over the years.
Caldwell’s 1 BTC “error” coins lead the pack in quantity, with over 2,000 redeemed, while the 5 BTC and 25 BTC versions show redemption rates above 50% and 67%, respectively. The legendary 100 BTC bars top the redemption leaderboard at a staggering 87.72%, and one ultra-rare 500 BTC bar still sits unclaimed like buried treasure. (Or maybe it’s just procrastinating. 🕰️)
Across Series 2, activity is just as varied-roughly 34% to 42% of the 0.5 and 1 BTC coins have been redeemed, while the high-value bars, including a single 500 BTC one, have all met their fate. Caldwell’s Series 3 silver coins, however, are the hermits of the bunch-barely touched, with redemption rates lingering between 10% and 16%. (Probably plotting a comeback in “Bitcoin: The Musical.” 🎤)
Out of 3,570 minted, most remain sealed, quietly guarding their satoshis. In total, these figures paint a clear picture: the big bars have been cracked, the mid-tier coins picked over, but thousands of smaller silver and brass pieces are still out there-glinting in vaults, forgotten drawers, or tucked away as physical proof of bitcoin’s early magic. (Which is basically just Caldwell being a wizard. 🧙♂️)
Casascius FAQs: Because You’ve Probably Misplaced Your Pickaxe 🪓
- What are Casascius bitcoins?
Casascius bitcoins are physical coins minted between 2011 and 2013 that contain real BTC secured under a holographic seal. (Like a Bitcoin McDonald’s token, but more likely to haunt your dreams.) - How many Casascius coins have been redeemed so far?
As of late 2025, more than 10,000 Casascius coins have been redeemed, unlocking over 53,000 BTC. (And still costing you therapy.) - How much BTC remains unredeemed?
Roughly 38,000 BTC worth over $4 billion is still sealed inside 17,746 active Casascius coins. (Probably cursed. Probably haunted. Probably your future. 🕯️) - Why did Casascius’ coin production stop?
Production ended in 2013 after U.S. regulators raised concerns about money transmission laws. He produced 27,928 units holding 91,254 BTC in total. (“I was just priming the crypto pump!” – Caldwell, probably. 🚰)
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2025-10-20 02:58