01.08.2025 02:56
A dormant Bitcoin wallet, untouched for fifteen and a half years, recently sprang back to life, transferring its entire balance of 50 BTC. This significant event, first reported via internet sources, saw the coins, originally mined in 2010, moved for the first time since their creation. The transaction, worth over $5.9 million at current market rates, represents an astronomical 11,833,000% return on the estimated $0.10 per coin cost at the time of mining.
Blockchain analysis reveals the coins originated from the address "13giEg," a recipient of a standard 50 BTC block reward during Bitcoin's experimental phase. Interestingly, the coins passed through a second inactive wallet before settling in a modern SegWit address, currently holding a total of 100 BTC, valued at nearly $11.9 million. The wallet's prolonged inactivity, coupled with its last update coinciding with Satoshi Nakamoto's forum activity, immediately attracted the attention of on-chain analysts.
Unlike many reactivated wallets that show signs of testing or small transactions ("dusting"), this movement was remarkably clean and decisive. The 50 BTC were transferred swiftly and completely, without any preliminary activity. The motivations behind the transfer remain unknown. The owners might intend to sell, consolidate their holdings, or simply reorganize their cold storage. This event fuels speculation regarding the number of early Bitcoin holders and their future plans.
Although the receiving wallets aren't currently linked to major exchanges, the reactivation of one of Bitcoin's oldest block rewards after almost 5,600 days of inactivity is a noteworthy event in itself. This quiet yet substantial movement underscores that sometimes, the most telling signals in the cryptocurrency market aren't dramatic price swings but rather subtle actions, such as the quiet awakening of a long-dormant wallet. The significance of this event lies not just in the financial gain, but also in the historical context and the intriguing questions it raises about early Bitcoin adoption and long-term strategies.