The long-dormant wallet mined thousands of Bitcoin in the network’s earliest days and just sent 150 BTC, sparking renewed interest among crypto watchers.
A $442M Bitcoin Wallet Stirs After 14 Years
A Satoshi-era Bitcoin wallet, inactive since June 2011, has reawakened — moving 150 BTC (worth over $16 million) in its first transaction in more than a decade.
According to Whale Alert, the wallet originally mined around 4,000 BTC between April and June 2009, only months after Bitcoin’s launch. The newly active address was part of the earliest wave of Bitcoin mining, making its activity a rare event in the crypto ecosystem.
On-chain analytics from Nansen confirmed the latest transaction, while mempool.space data shows the whale may have once held as much as 7,850 BTC — equivalent to $442 million at current prices.
When CoinMarketCap began tracking Bitcoin in mid-2010, the asset was worth around $0.05, meaning the whale’s holdings were valued at only $194 back then.
Analysts Track an OG Whale’s Movements
Blockchain analyst Emmett Gallic noted on X that the same whale appears to have once held 8,000 BTC across multiple wallets and has been selling gradually over the years.
Mempool data indicates the whale’s wallet now holds 3,850 BTC, suggesting continued, measured selling activity.
Old Bitcoin Giants Keep Resurfacing
This isn’t the first ancient wallet to move funds this year. In July 2025, another Satoshi-era address containing over 80,000 BTC began transferring its holdings to Galaxy Digital, marking the end of a 14-year dormancy.
Similarly, in previous months, several early Bitcoin addresses tied to the 2009–2011 mining era have shown signs of activity — fueling speculation about who these early holders might be.
While traders often speculate that whale awakenings may lead to sell pressure, analysts suggest such movements aren’t necessarily bearish.
Crypto analyst Willy Woo noted earlier this year that whales holding over 10,000 BTC have been gradually selling since 2017, but institutional demand has largely absorbed this supply.
The reactivation of a 2009 Bitcoin wallet underscores the longevity of Bitcoin’s earliest adopters — and serves as a reminder of how far the network has come, from $0.05 coins to over $110,000 each.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves risk and may result in financial loss.