Whale Moves 80,000 BTC Purchased in 2011 Worth $8.6 Billion

A significant movement of Bitcoin (BTC) has been observed, with a whale transferring approximately 80,000 BTC. This substantial amount of BTC was originally purchased in 2011 at prices ranging from $0.78 to $3.37 per coin. At the time of the transfer, the total value of these coins exceeded $8.6 billion. This event has sparked considerable interest and speculation within the cryptocurrency community, as such large-scale movements are relatively rare and can have implications for market sentiment and price dynamics.

The transfer involved BTC that was acquired during the early days of Bitcoin, when the cryptocurrency was still in its nascent stages. The purchase prices of $0.78 and $3.37 per BTC reflect the significant appreciation the asset has undergone over the past decade. The current valuation of these coins at over $8.6 billion underscores the remarkable growth and potential of Bitcoin as an investment asset.

According to a post by CryptoRank, this whale accumulated 20,000 BTC at $0.78 and 60,000 BTC at $3.37 in 2011. The assets remained untouched for 14 years before being moved to fresh addresses on July 4, 2025. The total portfolio is now valued at $8.6B, with no sell-off confirmed, just address restructuring.

Portfolio valuation remained under $1B between 2011 and 2016, showing minimal growth during Bitcoin’s early years. A notable surge began in 2017, pushing value close to $2B before retracing through 2018 and 2019. Despite sharp volatility, no major accumulation or dumping was recorded through that period.

Seven billionaire addresses holding since April-May 2011, moved over $7.6B in BTC within 12 hours. The activity was labeled under “BTC Whale 4th July,” with each transaction involving precisely 10,000 BTC. All transfers ranged between $1.08B and $1.09B in value and hit the chain in tightly timed intervals.

Arkham reported that one address initiated two identical transfers eight minutes apart, totaling $2.16B in BTC. Another wallet sent two 10K BTC batches just 45 minutes earlier, contributing another $2.16B to the movement. One-hour and two-hour marks saw two more sets of mirrored transfers, stacking billions in flow.

The last whale address moved its final 10K BTC on block #903985 at 14:59:38 UTC on July 4. As flagged by Arkham, this single transfer totaled 10,009.26 BTC, valued at approximately $1.08B. The sender address, ending in “WPUcc,” broadcasted to a destination holding the full amount, still unspent.

The transaction used five tiny UTXOs ranging between $0.59 and $10.79, showing previous fragmentation. Only one output was created, and the fee remained minimal at 0.00057667 BTC or roughly $62.20. The coins now sit untouched, pointing to a cold storage or internal transfer strategy-not liquidation.

Each transaction shared the same on-chain label, suggesting coordinated activity across these legacy addresses. The identical BTC batch sizes, consistent timings, and unified tag confirm a structured move, not a random action. In total, 13 whale transactions were captured, collectively moving 130,000 BTC worth over $14B.

The movement of such a large quantity of BTC has raised questions about the identity of the whale and the potential motivations behind the transfer. Speculation has centered around prominent figures in the cryptocurrency space, with some suggesting that it could be related to Roger Ver, a well-known Bitcoin advocate and entrepreneur. However, without concrete evidence, these remain purely speculative.

The impact of this transfer on the broader cryptocurrency market is a subject of debate. Some analysts suggest that large-scale movements of BTC can influence market sentiment and potentially affect price volatility. However, given the current market conditions and the overall stability of Bitcoin, the immediate impact of this transfer may be limited. The cryptocurrency market has shown resilience in the face of such events, and it is likely that the market will continue to operate within its established parameters.

The transfer also highlights the long-term holding strategy of some Bitcoin investors. By acquiring and holding BTC during its early stages, these investors have realized substantial gains. This strategy, often referred to as "HODLing," has become a popular approach among cryptocurrency enthusiasts, who believe in the long-term potential of digital assets. The success of such investors serves as a testament to the potential rewards of early adoption and long-term holding in the cryptocurrency space.

In conclusion, the movement of 80,000 BTC, originally purchased in 2011, to the tune of $8.6 billion, is a significant event in the cryptocurrency world. While the identity of the whale and the motivations behind the transfer remain unclear, the event underscores the remarkable growth and potential of Bitcoin as an investment asset. The cryptocurrency market's response to such events will continue to be a subject of interest and analysis for investors and enthusiasts alike.