Bitcoin News Today: Five ancient Bitcoin miner wallets move $29.6M after 15 years of dormancy

Five long-dormant Bitcoin miner wallets, each containing 50 BTC mined in April 2010, have recently moved a combined $29.6 million in Bitcoin to fresh addresses in mid-to-late July 2025 [1][3][5]. These wallets, inactive for nearly 15 years, consolidated their holdings into two new addresses with the "bc1q" prefix, a format introduced under the SegWit upgrade, which improves error detection and supports advanced features [1][7]. At the time of mining, Bitcoin’s price hovered near $0.003 per BTC, meaning the 50 BTC block reward was valued at just about 15 cents [1]. Today, each of those 50 BTC holdings is worth nearly $5.9 million, reflecting an extraordinary return on investment [7].

The movement was described as clean and precise, with no prior testing or small-scale transactions, indicating a deliberate and strategic transfer [7]. One of the wallets, "13giEg," had not been active since 2010, when it received its initial block reward during Bitcoin’s early experimental phase [7]. Blockchain analytics firm EmberCN noted that the 250 BTC were moved in close succession, suggesting coordination among the holders [4]. Notably, none of the receiving addresses are linked to major exchanges, fueling speculation that the coins may be being moved to updated storage solutions or reorganized [7].

This activity is part of a broader trend in July 2025, where more original Bitcoin addresses are waking up after long periods of inactivity [1][5]. The sudden movement of such a large sum from 2010-era mining has reignited discussions about the role of early Bitcoin holders in the market, the potential for price volatility following significant on-chain activity, and the long-term sustainability of Bitcoin’s supply dynamics [1]. Analysts have pointed to the broader context of rising ether demand and increased institutional accumulation, which have driven Bitcoin to new highs, trading at $118,480 in recent weeks—just 4% below its all-time high of $122,838 [1].

While there is no immediate indication of a sell-off, the movement of these large amounts has prompted on-chain analysts to consider the potential impact on Bitcoin’s liquidity and price stability [6]. The reactivation of these wallets has sparked speculation about the intentions of the early adopters behind them, with some analysts suggesting the transfers could signal a shift in long-term holding strategies [7]. As the cryptocurrency market continues to mature, the actions of these early adopters remain a critical factor in understanding the broader macroeconomic forces at play [7].

Source:

[1] title: Bitcoin wallets move nearly $30 million after 15 years

https://www.theblock.co/post/365007/bitcoin-miner-wallets-15-years

[2] title: The Block on X: "Bitcoin wallets move nearly $30 million ...

https://x.com/TheBlock__/status/1950877333528732083

[3] title: Bitcoin wallets move nearly $30 million after...

https://coinstats.app/news/bf75f97a859d9960d3aafbc3a1221dd4438693316027588ae4627fbad4e6395e_Bitcoin-wallets-move-nearly-30-million-after-15-years-dormant-each-mined-50-BTC-in-2010

[4] title: 15-Year-Dormant Bitcoin Miner Wallets Move $29.6M in ...

https://www.ainvest.com/news/bitcoin-news-today-15-year-dormant-bitcoin-miner-wallets-move-29-6m-2507/

[5] title: 15-Year Dormant Bitcoin Wallet Moves 250 BTC Worth ...

https://blockchain.news/flashnews/15-year-dormant-bitcoin-wallet-moves-250-btc-worth-29-62-million-impact-on-btc-price-and-market-liquidity

[6] title: Five ancient miner wallets reawakened, consolidating their ...

https://cryptorank.io/news/feed/de47f-ancient-bitcoin-whale-wallets-reawaken

[7] title: Satoshi-Era Bitcoin Wallet Breaks Silence After 15 Years, ...

https://u.today/satoshi-era-bitcoin-wallet-breaks-silence-after-15-years-with-11833000-profit