Charlie Shrem Puts Personal Bitcoin Memorabilia Up for Auction
Crypto pioneer and Bitcoin Foundation co-founder, Charlie Shrem, has announced an auction of 12 personal items that highlight the early days of Bitcoin. Among the lots are the first edition of Bitcoin Magazine, his prison diary, and a silver Bitcoin ring. (Cointelegraph)
10 Years After Early Release
The auction, hosted on the Scarce City platform, coincides with the 10-year anniversary of Shrem’s early release from federal prison. In January 2014, he was arrested for involvement in unlicensed money transmission linked to the Silk Road marketplace, with transactions exceeding $1 million in Bitcoin. He served two years and was released in September 2015. (Bitbo.io)
Historic Collectibles
Highlighted items in the auction include:
- First Edition Bitcoin Magazine (May 2012): Signed by Shrem, featuring early advertising for BitInstant, the platform he co-founded.
- Prison Diary: Personal notes and reflections written during his incarceration.
- Silver Bitcoin Ring: A symbol of the early Bitcoin community and the “orange pill” movement.
Shrem described the items as “scars and sparks from the early days of Bitcoin and its first flame… fragments of life lived when the world did not yet believe.”
Legacy of Silk Road
The auction also draws attention to the broader Silk Road legacy, one of the first darknet marketplaces that shaped regulatory and legal responses to cryptocurrency. Recent prosecutions continue to highlight its historical significance.
Auction Details
The auction opens on September 16, 2025, via the Scarce City platform. Collectors and crypto historians alike have a rare opportunity to acquire artifacts from the formative years of Bitcoin and its community.
