From $2,700 to $91K: How a Piece of Paper Behind Janet Yellen's Speech Became a $1M Bitcoin Artifact

The infamous “Buy Bitcoin” sign has become far more than a protest moment—it’s now a certified piece of crypto history worth seven figures. Last week, the handwritten note that photobombed Janet Yellen’s 2017 Federal Reserve address sold for 16 bitcoins (approximately $1.027 million) on the Scarce.City auction platform, with the winner operating under the handle “Squirrekkywrath.”

When a Yellow Legal Pad Met the Federal Reserve

Christian Langalis, the 22-year-old intern behind the sign back in 2017, created what would become the Bitcoin community’s most recognizable physical symbol. While delivering remarks before the House Financial Services Committee, Yellen’s speech was momentarily hijacked by Langalis holding up a yellow legal pad with two words: “Buy Bitcoin.” Security escorted him out for violating decorum rules, but not before the image went viral. At that exact moment, BTC rallied 3.7%—a fitting coincidence for a moment that would define a decade of Bitcoin advocacy.

The Math Behind the Million-Dollar Sign

After Scarce.City’s 15% commission, Langalis walks away with approximately $875,000, or roughly 13.6 bitcoins. The physical lot includes not just the original sign but Langalis’ handwritten notes and sketches from that historic day. For perspective, Bitcoin has transformed dramatically since July 2017 when it hovered around $2,700. Today, with BTC trading near $91,830, that same amount of bitcoin would be worth considerably more—underscoring just how volatile and explosive this asset class has become.

A Blueprint Replicated Across Silicon Valley

The original sign’s cultural weight was validated even before this sale. In 2019, Langalis produced 21 limited edition copies, each priced at 0.8 bitcoin ($51,300 in today’s valuation). These replicas now decorate the offices of major venture capitals like Paradigm and Blockchain Capital, cementing the sign’s status as institutional Bitcoin symbolism.

What’s Next: Lightning Network Dreams

The windfall isn’t going into Langalis’ personal crypto wallet—it’s funding his next venture, Tirrel Corp. The startup is developing a Lightning Network wallet native to Urbit, aiming to bring faster, cheaper Bitcoin transactions to a new ecosystem. This pivot reflects how the Bitcoin community’s pioneer spirit has evolved from protest signs to infrastructure building.

The Bigger Picture

The $1 million valuation represents something deeper than nostalgia. It’s validation that Bitcoin’s 2017 moment—dismissed by many as a speculative bubble—was actually the beginning of something structural. The approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in 2024 and BTC’s climb from $2,700 to current levels vindicates Langalis’ original message: Bitcoin’s integration into mainstream finance wasn’t a question of if, but when. A piece of yellow legal paper proved prophetic.