A story worthy of a crime thriller unfolds in the world of cryptocurrencies. Ten years ago, in 2011-2012, Irish drug dealer Clifton Collins, now 55, began accumulating Bitcoin. With the proceeds from the sale of cannabis, he acquired an impressive 6,000 BTC, which at the time was worth only around $30,000. Little did he know that these digital coins would become his ticket to the list of the world’s richest blockchain users.

 From Beekeeper to Crypto Millionaire
Collins’ path to crypto wealth was a rocky one. Growing up in a Dublin working-class neighborhood, he had worked as a security guard and even a beekeeper before switching to a more lucrative, albeit illegal, business – growing and selling cannabis. It was from this "harvest" that he began investing in the increasingly popular Bitcoin.

 Prison as a Catalyst for Wealth Growth

In 2020, Collins's fate took a dramatic turn. He was sentenced to five years in prison for possessing €2,000 worth of cannabis. Paradoxically, while he was serving his sentence, his cryptocurrency wealth skyrocketed. The meteoric rise of Bitcoin, which peaked in the fall of 2025, turned his modest investment into a whopping $750 million. Today, according to Arkham analysts, Clifton Collins is the seventh-richest cryptocurrency holder in the world.

 Lost Keys and a Sudden Return

After his arrest, Collins claimed that he had lost access to his Bitcoin. He claimed that he had printed the private keys to his crypto wallets on paper and stored them in a fishing rod hidden in his rental house. When he was evicted, the landlord, according to Collins, threw his belongings in a dumpster, permanently denying him access to his accumulated wealth.

 However, in March 2026, the story took an unexpected turn. One of the 14 wallets belonging to Collins "woke up." 500 bitcoins were transferred to the deposit of the Coinbase exchange, the value of which at that time was about $35 million. And on May 19, a new transaction was made: another 500 bitcoins, this time already worth more than $70 million, were withdrawn to the exchange.

 What is Behind the Movement of "Sleeping" Bitcoins?

This sudden activity caused a stir in the crypto community. Arkham's analysts, who monitor the movement of funds on the blockchain, were the first to sound the alarm. Who is behind these transactions? Is it really Clifton Collins himself, or has someone else gained access to his lost keys?

 It is possible that Collins has managed to regain access to his assets, despite his claims of losing his keys. Alternatively, someone may have found a way to bypass the security measures and gain control of his wallets. Regardless of who is behind these movements, one thing is clear: the drug dealer's 10-year-old "sleeping" bitcoins, currently valued at around $400 million, have once again come to life, capturing the attention of the entire crypto world.

 This story serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictability, potential profitability, and risks associated with the world of cryptocurrencies. It highlights how even the most "lost" assets can unexpectedly "awaken," altering the numbers on accounts and potentially shaping people's lives.