Bitcoin Whale from 2011 Activates 10,000 BTC Worth over $1 billion

Self-Proclaimed “Satoshi” Craig Wright Says He Didn’t Move 50 BTC From An 11-Year-Old Address

A Bitcoin whale has activated their wallet after 14 years laying dormant, holding 10,000 BTC worth over $1 billion. Bitcoin’s price jumped over the $109k mark today and then backed down. The whale activated their wallet at around this time as the market receded slightly. Bitcoin has performed well over the past year with  89% profit for investors. US lawmakers could be on the verge of passing multiple crypto laws that could reshape the crypto industry in America. Bitcoin broke the $109k level which could indicate further upwards momentum. The Bitcoin whale could be cashing out while the price is in a favourable position. The Bitcoin whale originally bought 10,000 BTC for $7,805 in April 2011 for a bargain price of $0.78 per token. It is quite an accomplishment to make $1 billion from $7,805 in just 14 years. 

The Deribit BTC Volatility Index recently dropped to a two-year low. The price has been hovering underneath the $110k mark for many weeks and this has lowered the volatility. Investor returns are now much lower due to the sideways action. Some traders may welcome the low volatility because it could indicate further momentum on the upside. Other traders, such as the Bitcoin whale, could see this as an opportune time to exit the market. There is always the possibility that the price is as good as it gets and won’t go any higher. And yet there is institutional interest in digital assets and favorable regulatory conditions in America. There are plenty of positive signs that Bitcoin’s price could continue to reach new highs. However, if enough whales continue to sell their holdings, there may be enough pressure to push the price down. There has been a lot of hype around Bitcoin ETFs. Yet there may be room for a reprieve from bull runs until the market decides where it will go next.

Blockchain analysis reveals that there were twice as many long dormant whales moving in early 2025 than the previous year of 2024. Around 60k BTC over 7 years dormant was moved in the first three months of 2025, while around 30k BTC was moved during the same period in 2024. There could be a possibility that the dormant whales are simply moving their funds. They may wish to create new wallets with extra security features. They may want to easily withdraw funds for specific needs. There are many possibilities for the dormant whales. Fourteen years, however, is a long time to hold 10,000 BTC. There have also been whales that have poorly timed the market, selling at the wrong time only to buy again when the price goes up. 

Bitcoin volatility has gone down considerably, pushing the beta value of the cryptocurrency down to a level that fund managers are even starting to consider the token. There is a possibility that Bitcoin may plateau and find a more stable price. Such a development would attract more institutional traders because they prefer a more stable asset that could store value consistently. Yet many traders of the past may have preferred the speculative nature of Bitcoin and the gambling rush of experiencing large gains in a short period of time. However, it is too soon to make such a judgement. 

Many speculative traders will still be keeping a watch on the $110k key level, that if broken, would indicate further all time highs. And then there are whales selling their holdings, taking their money while they have the chance. If they are right, they may say later on that it was obvious that Bitcoin was about to fall. But this illustrates the stress that goes along with being a trader. It is extremely difficult to predict the price, especially with a new technology like Bitcoin.