Phoenix Suns’ Kevin Durant (#35) watches the game unfold against the Houston Rockets at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona, on March 30, 2025.
Chris Coduto | Getty Images
After a period of being unable to access his cryptocurrency holdings, NBA player Kevin Durant once again has control over his Bitcoin stash, resolving a prior issue where he encountered difficulties accessing his Coinbase digital wallet.
Brian Armstrong, the head of Coinbase, announced the resolution on social media Friday. “The issue has been resolved. Account recovery is complete,” he posted, responding to a discussion about Durant’s previous account access problems on the crypto exchange.
This announcement follows comments made just days earlier by Durant and his business manager, Rich Kleiman, at CNBC’s Game Plan conference held in Los Angeles, where they lightheartedly discussed the situation.
“It’s a challenge we haven’t overcome yet,” Kleiman mentioned on Tuesday, referring to the Coinbase account recovery procedure. “However, with Bitcoin’s rising value, it’s ultimately worked out in our favor.”
Durant’s acquisition of Bitcoin on the Coinbase platform dates back to 2016, inspired by multiple conversations about the digital currency during a dinner with his then-teammates from the Golden State Warriors.
In 2016, Bitcoin’s price fluctuated between approximately $360 and $1,000, according to data from CoinGecko. Today, the same provider indicates the cryptocurrency is valued around $116,000.
Bitcoin since 2016
Durant and Kleiman, who are also investors in Coinbase Global and actively promote the platform through their sports and entertainment website, Boardroom, have not revealed the specifics regarding the extent of Durant’s Bitcoin holdings managed through the exchange.
This situation has ignited broader concerns about the quality of customer assistance provided by Coinbase. Numerous users have taken to social media to express their difficulties in obtaining support from Coinbase to regain entry to their accounts or resolve various technical problems.
These complaints are the most recent in a series of demands for enhancements to Coinbase’s customer support infrastructure. Earlier in May, the company disclosed that certain customer service employees located overseas had been bribed by cybercriminals to leak private customer information. In 2021, Coinbase clients voiced their dissatisfaction regarding the new live phone support system implemented by the company, with one user labeling it “a joke” in a statement to CNBC.
On Friday, Coinbase’s CEO, Armstrong, addressed the latest wave of user concerns pertaining to the efficacy of their customer support services, underscoring the company’s commitment to significant improvements.
“We are heavily focused on enhancing our customer support across the board—both by refining our products to minimize the need for assistance and by delivering a faster, more effective experience when support is required,” Armstrong stated in a post on social media Friday.
Coinbase has not yet responded to CNBC’s request for further comments on the concrete steps the company will take to improve its customer service. Earlier this week, the company communicated to CNBC that they maintain a 24/7 assistance hotline for users, in addition to offering self-help resources for resolving common issues.