$8.6 Billion Bitcoin Moved From Dormant Addresses Sparks Hack Fears

Roughly $8.6 billion worth of Bitcoin (BTC) was moved from eight long-dormant addresses, prompting concerns from analysts about the nature of these transactions. The pattern of transfers suggested a more manual, calculated approach, which was unusual and did not align with typical institutional movements or whale cash-outs.

Adding to the speculation, one of the connected wallets conducted a small transaction on the Bitcoin Cash (BCH) network just before the main Bitcoin transfers. This action was speculated to be a stealth test to verify control over the private keys, taking advantage of BCH’s lower visibility compared to BTC.

While the likelihood of a hack is considered small, the circumstances do not align with normal whale behavior or exchange activity. The analyst emphasized that the movements do not resemble a typical cash-out, raising further questions about the intent behind these transactions.

Arkham Intelligence confirmed that none of the Bitcoin has moved beyond the new addresses, and the source wallets had been dormant for 14 years, dating back to Bitcoin’s earliest era. If foul play is confirmed, it could mark the largest crypto theft in history.

Recent significant movements in Bitcoin have sparked concerns among analysts about the possibility of a historic hack. The patterns observed do not align with typical market behavior, leading to speculation about potential security breaches. The cryptocurrency world has seen its share of high-profile hacks and scams, with investors losing billions to various forms of cybercrime in the first half of 2025 alone. This history of vulnerabilities has made the community particularly sensitive to any unusual activity, especially given the decentralized and largely unregulated nature of the market.

The analyst who raised the alarm emphasized that while the theory is speculative, the unusual nature of the recent Bitcoin moves warrants attention. The community is on high alert, with many calling for increased vigilance and enhanced security measures to protect against potential threats. The situation underscores the need for continuous monitoring and robust security protocols to safeguard digital assets in an ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats.