Coinbase Helps Kevin Durant Restore 2016 Bitcoin Account

NBA superstar Kevin Durant has finally regained access to a Coinbase account he opened nearly a decade ago, restoring Bitcoin purchased when the cryptocurrency was worth less than $700. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong confirmed the recovery on social media this week, putting an end to years of speculation about Durant’s dormant funds.

Good to Know

• Kevin Durant bought Bitcoin in 2016 when it traded around $650.
• Durant lost access to his Coinbase account for nearly a decade.
• Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong confirmed the successful recovery.

Durant’s interest in crypto began in 2016 after attending a dinner with investor Ben Horowitz and his business partner Rich Kleiman. Inspired, Durant bought Bitcoin on Coinbase—but soon misplaced the login credentials to his account. The funds sat untouched as Bitcoin climbed roughly 180 times in value.

In September 2025, Armstrong posted: “We got this fixed. Account recovery complete!” Coinbase’s support team worked with Durant to confirm his identity, following renewed public attention when Kleiman mentioned the situation at a tech conference.

Durant’s venture firm, Thirty Five Ventures, has been an investor in Coinbase since 2017, and the basketball star has appeared in the company’s marketing campaigns.

Safe Bitcoin Storage

Durant’s experience shows us the importance of secure Bitcoin storage. Holders can choose between keeping crypto on an exchange or transferring it to a private wallet. Exchanges like Coinbase provide convenience, customer support, and recovery options in cases like Durant’s. However, private wallets—especially hardware wallets—offer more control and stronger protection against hacks but carry the risk of permanent loss if recovery keys are misplaced.

Best practice for many investors is to diversify: keep some funds on reputable exchanges for liquidity and ease of use, while securing larger amounts in private wallets with safely stored recovery phrases.