Bitcoin worth $500 moved after a six-year period of inactivity, also known as "dormancy."
A series of significant events have unfolded in the cryptocurrency market, as multiple dormant Bitcoin wallets, some inactive since the early years of Bitcoin, have started transferring large amounts of BTC.
On January 10, 2025, a Bitcoin wallet that had been dormant for 14 years suddenly moved 500 BTC, equivalent to approximately $46.87 million at current prices. The transfer was analyzed by Lookonchain, and it was found that the Bitcoin was deposited into Coinbase Prime's custody 2 hours prior.
Interestingly, this transfer occurred after the Cosmos Network developers' transfer of 295.3 BTC in late December 2024. However, it's important to note that the wallet responsible for the January transfer was not the same as the one belonging to the Cosmos Network developers. The original source of the transferred Bitcoin is not specified in the provided information.
This transfer is part of a broader trend that has been observed in 2024 and 2025. In early 2025, at least five dormant wallets each transferred 10,000 BTC, representing some of the largest movements of such old holdings ever seen. These wallets had been inactive since around 2011.
Between January and March 2025, over 62,800 BTC that were dormant for 7+ years moved, more than doubling similar activity from early 2024. Several linked wallets collectively transferred over 50,000 BTC, revealing coordinated activity from an early Bitcoin holder.
In late July 2025, five ancient miner wallets—dormant for about 15 years—moved 50 BTC each, consolidating about $29.6 million in current value to new SegWit-format addresses. These moves were precise and devoid of preliminary smaller transactions, indicating deliberate and strategic consolidation rather than casual reactivation.
Despite the large transfers, none of the coins have yet shown any confirmed sales or liquidation on exchanges. Instead, the coins tend to be moved to new non-exchange addresses, leading experts to speculate that the owners might be upgrading their storage or preparing for future actions.
The activity has caused market speculation about potential upcoming volatility due to the influx of Bitcoins that had long been out of circulation suddenly reentering the market. However, no clear market impact or trend change has been confirmed yet.
This notable trend in the Bitcoin ecosystem, with early adopters awakening large dormant wallets and moving billions of dollars worth of BTC to new addresses, has been a topic of interest and discussion in the cryptocurrency community.
[1] "Bitcoin Whales Wake Up: 2025 Sees Billions in Old BTC Moved," Cointelegraph, 15 March 2025.
[2] "Old Bitcoin Wallets Wake Up: What Does it Mean for the Market?," The Block, 20 January 2025.
[3] "Massive Bitcoin Transfers from Ancient Wallets: A New Trend in the Crypto Market?," Decrypt, 1 August 2025.
[4] "The Great Bitcoin Awakening: A Look at the Largest Dormant Wallet Transfers," CoinDesk, 15 February 2025.
- Given the recent trend of significant Bitcoin transfers from dormant wallets, some financial analysts believe that this could potentially impact the overall Bitcoin market, making it an intriguing opportunity for tech-savvy investors.
- The technology behind Bitcoin continues to captivate the finance world, as multiple ancient wallets transferring billions of dollars' worth of BTC have sparked discussions about the long-term implications for the cryptocurrency ecosystem.
