Nearly five years ago, entrepreneur and antivirus tycoon John McAfee died in Spain after being found dead in his Barcelona prison cell. Spanish authorities ruled the death a suicide by hanging, though his widow, Janice, has publicly cast doubt on that conclusion and has speculated on a far darker explanation.

Before his death, McAfee became a loud and unmistakable presence in cryptocurrency circles, championing bitcoin and other digital assets while tossing out headline-grabbing predictions, including bitcoin hitting $1 million. He framed crypto as a counterweight to government control, neatly aligning it with his long-running opposition to surveillance.

Image source: Scarce City John McAfee Collection

McAfee’s company MGT also planned to mine bitcoin as a way to deepen its blockchain know-how before his globe-trotting stint at sea aboard a boat. By 2020, he was detained on U.S. warrants at Barcelona’s airport while attempting to board a flight. Now, 14 distinct items that belonged to McAfee are being auctioned via Scarce City, and fans can bid on the items on Jan. 29, 2026.

The lot spans an eclectic mix of personal effects, including McAfee’s passport, a shell necklace set, binoculars used for surveillance, a harmonica set, his podcast microphone, Ray Ban sunglasses, a slingshot, a knife, and even an electric prison razor, among other items. Scarce City runs its auctions with a bitcoin twist, requiring bidders to lock up a small slice of their bid as a refundable BTC deposit. If the winning bidder ghosts on payment, that deposit is burned, and the runner-up is invited to close the deal at their own top bid.

Image source: Scarce City John McAfee Collection

Similarly, after the Silk Road founder received a presidential pardon in January 2025, Scarce City rolled out a week-long auction of Ross Ulbricht memorabilia under the banner “Freedom Goods.” The sale included signed artwork, personal items from his time in prison, and bespoke bitcoin art, capturing the crypto community’s attention when it debuted. One item from the McAfee collection is a mask bought by John McAfee in Italy, affectionately described as a “whimsical memento from our unforgettable European road trip.”

“In a journey filled with exploration and spontaneity, this mask stands out as a symbol of both playfulness and jest. Despite its ornate design and theatrical appearance, it offers little in terms of true concealment, reminding us of the irony in its intention,” the Scarce City description of the mask notes. The listing also includes an accompanying post on X, which features the mask appearing in an older video.

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Overall, the group of items reads more like a postscript to a life that rarely followed a straight line. The items offer a glimpse into John McAfee’s chaotic orbit—equal parts technologist, provocateur, and outlaw—where spectacle often blurred with ideology. Even in absence, McAfee’s flair for the absurd and the confrontational lingers, preserved not in manifestos or code, but in the intriguing, personal objects left behind.

• What is being auctioned? Fourteen personal items once owned by John McAfee, ranging from his passport and sunglasses to a prison razor and podcast microphone.
• Where is the auction taking place? The items are being sold through Scarce City, a bitcoin-based auction platform focused on crypto-related memorabilia.
• When can people bid? Bidding is open ahead of the auction’s close on Jan. 29, 2026.
• How does the bidding work? Participants place bids backed by a small, refundable bitcoin deposit that is forfeited if the winning bidder fails to pay.

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