A Spanish public research body is liquidating 97 Bitcoin stash, bought over a decade ago for a blockchain study.
A remarkable financial windfall has appeared for a Spanish public research institute. The Institute of Technology and Renewable Energies (ITER) is now making final plans to sell its long-held stash of Bitcoin. The overall holding is worth over $10 million today. However, the 97 Bitcoin (BTC) were initially acquired for a mere $10,000 in back in 2012.
Decade-Old Research Project Yields Major Returns
The Tenerife Island Council manages the institute. It first bought the cryptocurrency over 10 years ago. Furthermore, the acquisition was never intended as an investment but as part of a crucial research project to study the technology of blockchain. The council is currently working to divest such holdings, according to a local newspaper report.
Juan Jose Martinez, the Innovation Councillor for Tenerife, confirmed the council’s efforts. He said that they are working with a Spanish financial institution. This institution has the authorization of both the Bank of Spain and the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV). Consequently, this is a necessary step to make the cryptocurrency sale legal.
Martinez expects to successfully close the transaction in the coming months. The large proceeds, now exceeding 10 million euros, will be reinvested back to the research projects of the technology center. For example, the funds will fund research into quantum technology. The institute is currently studying this advanced field.
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The selling process of Bitcoin is complicated by the traditional banking sector. Most European banks still refuse to accept Bitcoin. This is due to fears about a lack of regulation and the digital currency’s significant volatility. Therefore, the Council will have to work with a highly specialized and approved financial institution to complete the operation.
The value of the 97 Bitcoins has skyrocketed. They are currently worth more than 11 million euros. Bitcoin has revalued itself much over time, especially as its epic surge started in 2017. In addition, it has strongly cemented its position as a rare digital asset. It is now widely recognized as a symbol of financial sovereignty across the world.
Bitcoin Gains Credibility After SEC Approval for Financial Investments
The asset was given a huge boost last January. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the use of financial investments in Bitcoin and this was a long-awaited moment. As a result, this authorization has given more mainstream credibility to the cryptocurrency. International banks are also beginning to accept it as collateral in the credit process.
The initial purchase was only for an experimental objective, Martínez reiterated. He clarified that the move was only one of the many research projects being conducted by ITE. The idea was to have a complete understanding and experimentation with various technological systems. Thus, it makes sense to sell the assets at this current time since they have increased in value so much.
Blockchain, the underlying system of technology, is similar to a huge digital ledger. It is distributed to and run on high-capacity computers all over the world. Cybersecurity expert Deepak Daswani explains that there is a place that everyone can consult. Crucially, however, no person can tamper with the public record, and its integrity is ensured.
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