How many unclaimed bitcoins are there?

Among the most famous cases of lost Bitcoin wallets is the story of a programmer who threw away a hard drive containing 7,500 Bitcoins. This incident serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of securing and backing up digital assets.

BTCC, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, offers a range of services to help users manage their digital currencies. These services include spot trading, futures trading, and a wallet service. With BTCC, users can securely store, buy, and sell Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

It is a commonly held belief that approximately 4,000,000 Bitcoin coins, which constitute roughly 20% of the total circulating supply, have been lost indefinitely. This significant number underscores the importance of understanding how Bitcoin wallets can become inaccessible.

There are various reasons why a Bitcoin wallet might be deemed 'lost.' One common scenario is when users forget their private keys or wallet passwords. Without these credentials, accessing the funds stored in the wallet becomes impossible.

Another way a wallet can be lost is through the deletion or corruption of wallet files. If a user does not have a backup of their wallet, the funds may be permanently unrecoverable.