80,000 BTC Moved From Satoshi Era Wallets In Largest Transfer Ever

In a significant development within the cryptocurrency world, eight Bitcoin wallets collectively moved 80,000 BTC, marking the largest transfer of its kind from the "Satoshi era." This period, loosely defined from Bitcoin's launch in 2009 through 2011, is notable for being the time when its pseudonymous creator was still active online. The transferred coins are among the rarest class of BTC, having been mined or transacted during this early phase of Bitcoin's existence.

Two of these wallets, which had remained dormant for over 14 years, each transferred 10,000 BTC to new addresses. These wallets initially received their coins on April 3, 2011, when the value of Bitcoin was just 78 cents. At current prices, the BTC in each of these wallets is now worth over $1.1 billion, representing an appreciation of more than 13.9 million percent. The original source of these coins was wallet “1HqXB…gDwcK,” which sent 23,377.83 BTC to three separate wallets in 2011. Two of these wallets, “12tLs…xj2me” and “1KbrS…AWJYm,” held the bulk of the coins until this week. The third wallet, which received 3,377 BTC, had already spent its funds in 2011.

Late Friday, on-chain analysis firm Arkham flagged that six other wallets moved over 10,000 BTC in quick succession, worth over $8.6 billion at current prices. The same entity apparently owns all of these wallets. However, no individual or company has publicly claimed ownership of these wallets as of the Asian morning hours on Saturday. The transferred BTC was sent to fresh wallets using a modern, lower-fee address format. Neither of the new wallets has since moved the funds further, and the identity of the wallet owner remains unknown.

Wallets from the "Satoshi era" are considered part of crypto’s holy grail — rarely moved and often watched closely by traders for market signals. Any large sales from these wallets could be perceived as an early believer or miner changing their stance on the market. The movement of these coins highlights the ongoing interest and potential influence of early Bitcoin holders in the cryptocurrency ecosystem. The transfer of such a significant amount of BTC from the "Satoshi era" underscores the enduring value and rarity of these early-mined coins, which continue to hold substantial economic and historical significance within the Bitcoin community.