Article Details

Another Bitcoin Whale Awakens: Transfers 1,000 BTC for First Time Since 2014

TL;DR

• Dormant Whale Transfer: A Bitcoin wallet inactive since 2014 moved 1,000 BTC worth $116.6 million to four new addresses, sparking speculation.
• Price Reaction: Bitcoin rose 1.3% daily and 4.8% weekly, with analysts linking the whale’s move to growing market confidence.
• Legacy Wallet Trend: Other long-dormant wallets have reactivated recently, echoing a broader pattern of strategic repositioning.
  

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On Tuesday, A long-dormant Bitcoin whale reemerged after more than a decade of inactivity, transferring 1,000 BTC, valued at approximately $116.6 million. The move marks the wallet’s first activity since January 2014, when Bitcoin traded at around $847. The transaction adds to a growing trend of legacy wallets stirring amid renewed market momentum.

A whale transferred all 1,000 $BTC($116.88M) to new wallets after 12 years of dormancy.

The whale received 1,000 $BTC($847K at the time) 12 years ago, when the price of $BTC was $847.https://t.co/ugNQypaX8e pic.twitter.com/Yee2Pa410l

— Lookonchain (@lookonchain) September 17, 2025

Whale Moves $116 Million in BTC

According to on-chain analytics provider Lookonchain, citing Arkham data, the wallet identified as “1NzH…DrtpZo” transferred its entire 1,000 BTC holdings to four newly created addresses. The whale received the Bitcoin in early 2014, making this transfer the first in over 11 years. The ownership of both the original and new wallets remains unidentified, adding mystery to the sizable transaction.

Market Reaction and Price Movement

Bitcoin responded positively to the news, trading up 1.3% in the past 24 hours to reach $116,637 as of 10:00 p.m. ET Tuesday. The world’s largest cryptocurrency has also gained 4.8% over the past week, reflecting broader bullish sentiment in the market. The reactivation of dormant wallets may be contributing to investor optimism and increased trading volume.

Legacy Wallets Stir Amid Rally

This whale’s awakening is part of a larger pattern. Last week, a wallet containing 445 BTC ended nearly 13 years of dormancy by moving 132 BTC to a new address and sending 5 BTC to a Kraken wallet. In July, a Satoshi-era whale executed a massive sale of over 80,000 BTC, worth more than $9 billion at the time, through Galaxy Digital, reportedly as part of estate planning.

Ownership Remains Unknown

Despite the scale and timing of the transaction, Arkham has not linked the wallet to any known individual or entity. The anonymity surrounding these legacy wallets continues to intrigue market watchers, especially as their movements often coincide with significant price shifts. Whether this latest transfer signals a strategic repositioning or a broader trend remains to be seen.