The Iconic “Buy Bitcoin” Notepad Sold for a Fortune


In 2017 during a live broadcast, a notepad bearing the phrase “Buy Bitcoin” became an internet sensation when it was noticed in the background, behind then-Chair of the Federal Reserve, Janet Yellen. More recently, this notable piece of paper sold for a substantial amount – specifically, 16 Bitcoins. This equates to approximately $1.027 million based on current Bitcoin exchange rates.

At PubKey, a Bitcoin-themed watering hole in New York City, Scarce.City orchestrated and managed the auction proceedings.

Iconic “Buy Bitcoin” Sign Sold in Auction

As an analyst, I’d rephrase it this way: A week-long bidding war on Scarce.City resulted in me, Squirrekkywrath, emerging as the successful bidder. The Bitcoin Sign Guy, or Christian Langalis, oversaw the auction and even attended it in person before I secured the coveted item.

Scarce.City reported that the recent transaction established a new high mark for their platform’s value. Following Scarce City’s levy of a 15% fee, Langalis is projected to receive around $875,000 or roughly 13.6 Bitcoins.

And that’s a wrap on one of the most ICONIC pieces of Bitcoin history.

Made a little history of our own … meet the official new record.

— Scarce.City (@scarcedotcity) April 24, 2024

As a crypto investor, I’ve witnessed many milestones in the world of digital currencies, but none quite compare to the iconic “Buy Bitcoin” sign on a yellow legal pad. This tangible representation of Bitcoin’s arrival in the global financial scene is a rare and widely recognized symbol for this primarily digital asset. Having been put up for auction, this notepad holds significant value not just for its historic significance, but also as it contains Langalis’ original notes and sketches from that pivotal day.

During the well-known event, Langalis was allegedly a 22-year-old intern at the Cato Institute. The proceeds from the auction are intended to help fund Langalis’ startup, Tirrel Corp, which is dedicated to developing a Bitcoin Lightning network wallet on Urbit.

“Buy Bitcoin” Sign Replicas Sold For 0.8 BTC Each

Back in 2019, Langalis manufactured and disposed of 21 pieces replicating the renowned “Buy Bitcoin” sign. These items were traded for an average of 0.8 Bitcoins apiece. Currently, each piece is estimated to be worth around $51,300.

Based on the information provided, these replicas are prominently showcased in the workspaces of venture capital firms like Paradigm, Blockchain Capital, Castle Island Ventures, and cryptocurrency research institute Coin Center.

During a House Financial Services hearing in 2017, I held up a sign that breached committee rules, resulting in my removal from the building. Yet, the image of the sign swiftly disseminated online. In the wake of this incident, bitcoin’s price experienced a significant surge of approximately 3.7%.

Ever since then, I’ve witnessed an astonishing surge in bitcoin’s worth. It started around $2,700 in July 2017 and reached an astounding high of over $73,000 just last month. This remarkable growth can be attributed to some key regulatory moves in the US, such as the recent approval of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

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2024-04-28 14:08