The cryptocurrency world just got another shot of adrenaline. A wallet belonging to a whale (and miner) from Bitcoin’s earliest days, holding 4,000 BTC, has made its first move in 14 years. And no, that’s not a typo – fourteen. Years. A HODLer, as you see it.
The Giant Awakens – The Whale under the microscope of Arkham and Lookchain
According to Arkham data cited by analytics platform Lookonchain, a wallet marked “18eY9…6EfyM” transferred 150 BTC worth approximately $16.6 million to another, unnamed address on Thursday. The transaction took place around 3 p.m.
The history of these coins is fascinating. They were mined in 2009 – in an era when Bitcoin was still a baby and no one even dreamed of institutional investors. It can be said that the BTC in the whale’s account was one of the first to be mined. Their story is simple, as in 2011 they were consolidated into the 18eY9o portfolio. And since then? Silence. They lay quietly in the wallet, like James Howells’ coins in a landfill in Newport, England.
Mathematics that is impressive
The numbers speak for themselves. On October 24, 2011, 4,000 BTC was worth just $16,400. Today, the same amount exceeds USD 442 million. It’s an increase that makes even the wildest analyst forecasts look conservative.
Bitcoin is currently up 2.2% in the last 24 hours, trading at $110,656. This is a ceiling that in 2009 was only a dream for Bitcoin supporters.
Trend or coincidence?
Since this year’s market rally, OG-wallets (wallets from Bitcoin’s earliest years) have shown increased activity. In July, the Satoshi-era whale sold over 80,000 BTC through Galaxy Digital – we’re talking about over $9 billion. Last month, more whales and their addresses that had been dormant for a decade sprang into action, moving millions of dollars in BTC.
The million-dollar question… or rather, USD 442 million
Who is the owner? An early whale miner taking profits after years of patience? Or maybe someone who just found their forgotten wallet password? Speculation is wild, but one thing is certain – whoever it is has just reminded the world that nothing is lost on the blockchain. Everything is just waiting for its moment.
Watch the 18eY9o portfolio. The remaining 3,850 BTC are still there. For now.
