Five dormant Bitcoin wallets from 2010 have transferred 250 BTC, worth $29.64 million, after being inactive for 15.3 years. Likely owned by an early miner and not linked to Satoshi Nakamoto, this activity has raised speculation about the whale’s intentions, possibly regarding security or asset consolidation.
Whale Stir Raises Market Concerns
The awakening of these wallets has left crypto traders nervous, as they fear a potential selloff. Each wallet, which contained 50 BTC mined in 2010, transferred funds to two modern addresses. Analysts suggest that this whale may be upgrading their security measures or gearing up to cash out.
Earlier in July, another whale transferred 80,000 BTC, equating to $9 billion, to Galaxy Digital, which triggered panic when 20,000 BTC was sold. Although no transfers to exchanges have been observed yet, such movements often indicate significant market intentions.
As Bitcoin hovers near $118,000, more Satoshi-era whales may awaken. In Q1 2025 alone, over 62,800 BTC from wallets older than seven years were moved, marking an impressive 121% increase. Earlier, in September 2024, 250 BTC, which was worth $16 million, also moved after being dormant for 15 years.
Institutional Buys Reduce Impact
If additional whales decide to sell, there could be short-term price drops; however, Bitcoin’s liquid market might be able to absorb such shocks. In the long term, these transfers could indicate that early adopters are redistributing wealth, contributing to the stabilization of the crypto ecosystem.
The crypto market is paying close attention to major investors from the early days of Bitcoin, known as Satoshi-era whales. However, fears of a crash have lessened because more big companies are getting involved. For example, Sylor’s Strategy and Metaplanet made an aggressive market presence this week, to shop for more BTC.
Although the actions of large holders can cause price swings, strong interest from new buyers helps balance the market. Bitcoin’s ability to stay strong during these changes shows that it can handle challenges effectively.
