11 years dormant, 20 minutes to transfer $60m: Mysterious Bitcoin wallet activation piques curiosity

As a researcher with extensive experience in blockchain analysis, I find the sudden activity from these two dormant Bitcoin wallets, last active over 10 years ago, to be an intriguing development in the crypto space. The fact that they contained approximately 1,000 Bitcoins each, worth around $60.9 million at today’s price, has generated widespread speculation within the community.


Inactive Bitcoin wallets, dormant for approximately eleven years, recently moved an impressive 1,000 Bitcoins (BTC) in a brief span of twenty minutes, according to on-chain observers.

In September 2013, wallets “16vRqA” and “1DUJuH” received identical transactions containing 500 Bitcoins apiece, according to the observations made by Lookonchain, a tool utilized for analyzing blockchain data.

In the past, a Bitcoin coin could be purchased for around $124. Nowadays, those seemingly insignificant deals have grown into substantial profits.

At present Bitcoin (BTC) value, the coins are worth around $60.9 million. This represents an astounding gain of 49,274.2% compared to their initial worth.

Two inactive wallets, “16vRqA” and “1DUJuH,” each holding 500 $BTC ($62,000 at the time), were activated within the past 20 minutes, transferring a total of 1,000 $BTC ($60.9M) from them. The first wallet received its funds on Sept 13, 2013, when Bitcoin’s price was $124. The second wallet received its share on Sept 12, 2013.— Lookonchain (@lookonchain) May 12, 2024

The abrupt surge in transaction activity from previously inactive cryptocurrency wallets has ignited buzz and raised intriguing questions within the crypto sphere, fueling widespread conjecture regarding the reasons for these unsuspected moves.

As a dedicated researcher delving into the intricacies of the cryptocurrency world, I can’t help but ponder over the enigma surrounding the wallets in question. The extended period of inactivity has ignited curiosity among members of the crypto community, leaving them to speculate about the identities and motives of the wallet holders. Some go so far as to propose that these funds may have been a part of the Silk Road stash, now in the possession of the U.S. government.

I wonder if this is the silk road money which was seized by US.

— Ryzoblue (rtrd/acc) (@RyzoBlue) May 12, 2024

Some people playfully mused that it could be Satoshi Nakamoto, the enigmatic creator of Bitcoin, cashing in his reported vast amount of bitcoins, estimated to be worth millions.

Satoshi nakamoto coming back to life to sell out his holdings 😅😛

— Crypto Craze (@Cryptocraze777) May 12, 2024

As a researcher studying the Bitcoin market, I have observed that significant transactions originating from older wallets are closely watched by market participants. These transactions frequently represent substantial amounts of Bitcoin, and their sale in the open market could potentially influence market trends and pricing.

Additionally, it has been observed in the past that the reawakening of dormant Bitcoin investors could indicate a bearish trend, leading some market observers to sell their holdings in anticipation of profit-taking.

Despite earning substantial profits, the proprietors of the two cryptocurrency wallets have declined to withdraw their funds via exchanges. Instead, they have transferred their assets to hidden wallets, increasing the mystery surrounding their intentions.

Approximately 1.8 million Bitcoins mined during Satoshi’s era are believed to be out of circulation, as these coins have not been moved from their wallets for several years.

As a researcher studying the Bitcoin network, I’ve observed an intriguing trend: the revival of previously inactive addresses. This phenomenon highlights the importance of buy-and-hold strategies among Bitcoin users, showcasing their belief in the long-term value of this digital currency.

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2024-05-12 18:34