Satoshi's Bitcoin Wallets Can't Be Unlocked With a 24-Word Seed Phrase
Claims resurfacing on social media that a 24-word mnemonic can unlock Satoshi Nakamoto’s estimated 1.1 million BTC ignore basic technical history. The BIP39 mnemonic/seed standard was introduced years after Satoshi’s known activity, and many early addresses were created with non-BIP39 key formats or individual private keys. Simply applying a modern 24-word phrase does not map to those legacy private keys.
The practical takeaway is that sensational posts may encourage scams or risky behavior, but they don’t change cryptographic reality: moving those coins would require the original private keys, not a newly guessed mnemonic. Users should be wary of services or claims asking for keys or payments to “unlock” historic wallets, and treat such viral assertions skeptically while relying on established wallet-security practices.