A Bitcoin wallet that had been dormant for over 13 years, since the Satoshi era, has suddenly moved its entire balance of 909.38 BTC, worth approximately $84.6 million. The address first received bitcoin in 2013 when the price was under $7, meaning the initial investment of roughly $6,400 has grown astronomically.
This transfer is part of a broader trend observed in 2024 and 2025, where long-dormant addresses collectively moved more than $50 billion worth of BTC. On-chain data indicates many of these ancient coins were ultimately spent, keeping market desks alert for potential exchange inflows that could signal selling pressure.
Analysts cite multiple potential motives for such moves, including security upgrades, custody changes, or recovered access to lost keys. A significant driver highlighted in the report is the growing concern over quantum computing risks. Early Bitcoin transactions exposed public keys on the blockchain, creating a potential future vulnerability where quantum computers could derive private keys. This has prompted security-conscious holders to move funds to newer address formats to reduce the attack surface.
The funds from this specific transfer were sent to a fresh, anonymous address rather than a known exchange wallet, suggesting the move may be defensive and precautionary rather than a precursor to a sale. For context, if the initial $6,400 had been invested in an S&P 500 index fund in 2013, it would be worth about $37,000 today, starkly underscoring Bitcoin's historic returns.
