Kevin Durant Recovers $1.8M Bitcoin, Sparks Coinbase Criticism

- Kevin Durant regains access to Coinbase account locked since 2016. - Recovery sparks criticism of preferential treatment for celebrities. NBA star Kevin Durant restored access to his long-locked Coinbase Bitcoin account earlier this week, ending nearly a decade of inaccessibility. Durant opened the account in 2016 when Bitcoin was valued at approximately $650, and following the cryptocurrency's price appreciation to over $115,000, his investment is now worth more than $1.8 million. The recovery sparked public criticism, as many accused Coinbase of giving Durant preferential treatment due to his celebrity status and business relationship with the exchange. On September 19, 2025, Cryptopolitan reported that Durant's account issue gained public attention after his agent and business partner, Rich Kleiman, mentioned it during the CNBC and Boardroom's Game Plan event. As a result, less than 24 hours later, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that the company had resolved the access issue. The incident quickly sparked backlash on social media, where users accused the platform of favoring high-profile individuals over regular customers experiencing similar account problems. Critics highlighted Coinbase’s longstanding customer service challenges, noting that ordinary users often face prolonged, unresolved issues without such swift action. The controversy deepened when Durant's existing financial ties to Coinbase Global came to light. Through his firm, Thirty Five Ventures, Durant and Kleiman are investors in Coinbase and also formed a promotional partnership with the exchange in 2021. Consequently, many observers suggested this relationship influenced the rapid resolution, intensifying accusations that Coinbase provides preferential treatment. As of September 19, at 15:09 UTC, Bitcoin (BTC) was trading at $115,630.60, with a 1.71% decrease in 24-hour trading volume, according to CoinMarketCap.