Dormant Whale Wakes Up After 13 Years, Moves $15.63M Worth of BTC

In a surprising development, three wallets, likely linked to a single Bitcoin whale, moved 955 BTC, valued at approximately $108.8 million, after 13 years of inactivity. The transaction included 137.03 BTC, worth $15.63 million, with 5 BTC sent to a Kraken exchange wallet. 

The coins, which were acquired when Bitcoin traded at $12 in 2012, highlight the staggering returns possible from early crypto investments, according to data from the blockchain analytics firm Bitinfocharts. 

Not the First Time

Sudden movements in wallets from Bitcoin’s early days often mean that holders are taking profits or changing their investments. This prompts traders to watch for price changes. These actions highlight how influential Bitcoin’s original holders still are in today’s market. Recent movements by large holders, often referred to as whales, can cause Bitcoin’s price to fluctuate significantly. 

However, the crypto space is not new to sudden whale movements that sometimes tend to sway the market. These transfers, though, may not always immediately change the price of Bitcoin. For example, in early May, two Bitcoin wallets from the early days of the crypto market moved their funds after being inactive for over ten years. These wallets made transactions worth a total of $325 million, however, the market felt no impact.

Institutional Buys Protect the Market

Despite concerns about market crashes, the crypto market has demonstrated its ability to withstand large sell-offs without significant downturns. Many buyers and sellers on exchanges like Binance and Coinbase provide enough liquidity to absorb big sales. For example, in July 2025, a whale sold $9 billion in Bitcoin through Galaxy Digital, but the market remained stable.

Over-the-counter (OTC) trading also lets whales sell their Bitcoin without disrupting public markets. These strategies, along with more institutional investors entering the market, often help keep Bitcoin’s price steady during big sell-offs.

Meanwhile, the establishment of new Bitcoin treasuries also helps to cushion the effect of this concern. For instance, Altvest Capital, a financial services firm listed in South Africa, has recently made an institutional move to create a Bitcoin reserve in Africa, with a $210 million investment. This move could boost the crypto market in Africa and encourage more institutional investors to participate.

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