As Bitcoin traded around the $80,500 to $82,458 range on Sunday, several long-dormant wallets suddenly became active again. The most notable move came from an address created on November 27, 2013, which transferred 500 BTC for the first time after roughly 12.5 years of inactivity. The coins were sent to a newly created Bech32 (SegWit) address, with the transfer valued at more than $40 million at current prices.
11 dormant wallets moved 859.13 BTC in total
According to the report, between block heights 948694 and 948822, a total of 11 dormant Bitcoin addresses were reactivated. Combined, they moved 859.13 BTC, worth about $69.47 million. The wallets had originally been created between 2013 and 2017, highlighting a broader pattern of long-term holders shifting old coins on-chain.
Beyond the 500 BTC from the 2013 wallet, the day also saw four separate 10 BTC transfers from wallets established in 2014. In addition, six transfers linked to 2017-era wallets accounted for another 319.13 BTC. One of those transactions moved 125.00232012 BTC. Those six larger transfers were reportedly connected, and the funds ultimately merged with other UTXOs into a single wallet now holding 594.831 BTC, worth roughly $48.88 million.
From $461,500 to more than $40 million
The value appreciation is striking. In November 2013, Bitcoin was trading at about $923, meaning the 500 BTC stash was worth roughly $461,500 at the time. At today’s prices, that same holding is worth more than $40 million, which is why the transfer quickly drew whale-watching attention.
So far, the on-chain activity does not appear to indicate immediate selling pressure. The report notes that the 500 BTC from the 2013 wallet moved through several new addresses after the initial transfer, suggesting the owner may be reorganizing holdings, upgrading wallet security, or preparing for future actions rather than sending coins directly to exchanges. Even without a visible sell-off, the movement of decade-old Bitcoin serves as a reminder that substantial dormant wealth remains scattered across the network and can re-enter circulation at any time.