Bitcoin Dormant for 15 Years: $120 Becomes Over ¥400 Million as Vintage Wallets Awaken in Succession

Long-dormant Bitcoin (BTC) wallets are resuming transactions one after another. According to blockchain monitoring data from Galaxy Research, at least four dormant wallets moved a combined 202.84 BTC (approximately $15.73 million, or ¥2.5 billion) between August 29 and September 4. Among these is a case where roughly $120 (approximately ¥19,000) at the time of acquisition ballooned to over $3 million (approximately ¥470 million) after approximately 15 years of holding.

The largest movement came from 146.06 BTC (approximately $11.31 million, or ¥1.8 billion) that had been untouched since November 2013, with an acquisition cost of roughly $595 (approximately ¥93,000) per coin. The gain from that entry point reaches approximately 12,902%. Next, 40 BTC dormant since November 2011 moved approximately $3.09 million (approximately ¥480 million) worth of value. With an average acquisition cost of about $3 (approximately ¥470), the gain amounts to an astonishing approximately 2,571,899%.

The remaining two cases involve even older coins. A 10 BTC wallet (approximately $777,000, or ¥120 million) that had been inactive since June 2011, and a 6.78 BTC wallet (approximately $551,000, or ¥86 million) whose last activity was in February of the same year, both resumed transactions. The latter had its destination tagged as Coinbase, making it highly likely that the move was intended for sale rather than a mere change of custody. Transfers to exchanges are generally viewed as a precursor to liquidation.