Kevin Durant Regains Access to Bitcoin Account After Years Locked Out

Phoenix, Arizona — NBA star Kevin Durant has regained access to his Bitcoin account on Coinbase after being locked out for nearly ten years. The two-time champion lost access to his account after forgetting his password soon after making an investment in Bitcoin in 2016.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong confirmed the account recovery in a post on X, stating, ‘We got this fixed. Account recovery complete!’ This announcement followed a period of frustration for Durant and his agent, Rich Kleiman, who had joked about their difficulties at a CNBC event in Los Angeles.

Durant initially purchased Bitcoin at a price around $600, encouraged by discussions about the cryptocurrency during a dinner with venture capitalist Ben Horowitz. After losing his password, his substantial investment remained inaccessible for nearly a decade, during which time Bitcoin’s value surged to approximately $116,000.

Kleiman discussed the challenges they faced in recovering the account, noting, ‘It’s just a process we haven’t been able to figure out.’ However, he also acknowledged that being locked out might have inadvertently prevented them from selling too early.

The situation has reignited discussion around Coinbase’s customer service, with numerous users expressing dissatisfaction over their own access issues. Many have criticized the exchange for appearing to prioritize high-profile clients over everyday users. One social media user wrote, ‘Helping bigger accounts who have a big following and will give you free PR is easy.’

Despite this backlash, Coinbase defended its support services, emphasizing their obligation to assist all users. A spokesperson stated, ‘Our support team is available 24/7 to guide users through this process,’ indicating a commitment to improve customer service.

This case underscores the complexities surrounding cryptocurrency access and highlights the importance of account security. It also raises questions about how platforms manage support for their diverse user base.