Several studies tracking the cryptocurrency ecosystem have documented the existence of accounts with thousands of Bitcoin tokens, valued today at billions of dollars, that have been totally inactive for several years. Estimates are that as of 2021, more than a fifth (20%) of Bitcoins are lost. (1)
The value of abandoned property in Bitcoins exceeds the gross product of several countries. You can take a look at the abandoned accounts with the highest balances here: https://bitinfocharts.com/top-100-dormant_5y-bitcoin...
The reasons for this phenomenon are unknown, but it is likely that these accounts belonged to people who died, or who forgot the private key to access their wallets.
As when the private access key is lost there is no system to recover it, these assets will improve in virtual wallets or wallets without the possibility of being liquidated or used in any way.
Bitcoin may soon be the most valuable and most difficult form of unclaimed property to be recovered by its original owners or their heirs.
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(1) https://decrypt.co/37171/lost-bitcoin-3-7-million-bitcoin-are-probably-gone-forever
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Stilman Research is a Licensed Private Investigative Agency in the State of Florida, pursuant Chapter 493 of the Florida Statutes - License Number A 1500310.