Bitcoin News Today: Bitcoin's 0.4% Supply Sold in $9 Billion Galaxy-Facilitated Record Sale, Price Stabilizes at $117,000

An anonymous Bitcoin investor from the cryptocurrency’s earliest days sold 80,000 BTC—valued at over $9 billion—in July 2025 through Galaxy Digital, triggering debates about long-term investor sentiment and market dynamics. The transaction, confirmed by Galaxy Digital’s CEO Mike Novogratz, was part of the investor’s estate planning strategy and executed without significant price volatility. Novogratz emphasized that the trade highlighted the maturation of institutional infrastructure in crypto markets, as large-volume transactions could now be absorbed without destabilizing the ecosystem [1].

The sale involved one of the largest single transfers of Bitcoin since its creation, with the investor leveraging Galaxy Digital’s brokerage capabilities to facilitate the exit. Despite the sheer scale of the transaction—equivalent to roughly 0.4% of the total circulating Bitcoin supply at the time—the price of BTC stabilized above $117,000 shortly afterward, underscoring robust liquidity conditions. Analysts noted that institutional buyers and market makers played a critical role in mitigating potential disruptions, reflecting a shift in how legacy holdings are being redistributed [2].

Market participants and commentators have interpreted the event differently. Scott Melker, a prominent market analyst, described the transaction as a “transition dynamic,” where “old whales sell to new long-term whales,” signaling a generational shift in Bitcoin ownership. He added that the sale reflected broader skepticism among early adopters, some of whom have questioned whether Bitcoin’s original vision remains intact amid institutional dominance [3]. Meanwhile, Ki Young Ju, another expert, highlighted the growing capacity of institutional investors to absorb large volumes, framing the trade as part of an evolving market structure where legacy coins are increasingly integrated into mainstream portfolios [4].

Regulatory observers also noted the absence of public intervention from bodies like the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), suggesting confidence in existing market safeguards. The lack of a regulatory response, combined with stable pricing, reinforced perceptions of Bitcoin’s resilience amid high-volume trades. Galaxy Digital’s execution of the sale further demonstrated the role of institutional intermediaries in bridging traditional finance and crypto markets, a trend expected to accelerate as more early investors seek to rebalance their portfolios.

The event has sparked speculation about the future trajectory of Bitcoin’s ownership distribution. With institutional adoption expanding and legacy investors potentially scaling back their holdings, the market is witnessing a recalibration of power dynamics. While the sale does not inherently indicate a loss of faith in Bitcoin, it underscores the growing influence of institutional players in shaping market outcomes. As Novogratz stated, such transactions are likely to become more common, reshaping the landscape of crypto markets in the coming years [5].

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