Bitcoin’s Old Guard Stirs as 13-Year-Old Wallets Move Millions

Two 2013 Bitcoin Wallets Wake Up in the Same Block

After a flurry of dormant $BTC activity in August following the Coldcard breach and another busy stretch in September, October has brought a noticeable slowdown. On Saturday, at block 971894, two separate wallets dating back to 2013 stirred from their lengthy slumber, moving a combined 416.69 $BTC for the first time since the coins were originally acquired.

The first transaction originated from a wallet established on Nov. 12, 2013, transferring 248.853 $BTC across several unidentified addresses. Next came a wallet dating to Aug. 20, 2013, which relinquished 167.84 $BTC after more than 13 years of inactivity. Both transactions were confirmed in block 971894, mined by MARA Pool.

October’s Dormant Bitcoin Activity Trails August and September

Interestingly, Saturday’s 416.69 $BTC awakening accounts for the lion’s share of the 774.17 $BTC in dormant coin movements documented by btcparser.com so far this month. In August, 6,427.59 dormant $BTC shifted from old wallets and September saw 5,401.841 $BTC across 94 distinct transfers, with 3,790 sent during the first two weeks.

Earlier this month, on Oct. 8, Galaxy Digital identified a wallet that transferred 100 $BTC originating from coins first mined in 2010. However, that transaction is absent from btcparser.com’s October tally of 774.17 $BTC because the 2010 coins had been commingled with other bitcoin, and the associated address had already recorded multiple transfers.

Carefully Timed Transfers Leave Bitcoin’s Next Move a Mystery

The oldest wallet in this specific batch dates back to July 11, 2012, and transferred exactly 25 $BTC on Oct. 2 after approximately 14.2 years of dormancy. The coordinated movement of 416.69 $BTC suggests the transfers may have stemmed from the same owner. Onchain heuristics lend some credence to that possibility, as the 167.84 $BTC transfer followed a transaction pattern strikingly similar to the first.

The slowdown in October may mean longtime bitcoin holders are waiting to see where prices go next, rather than feeling more confident. Moving these older coins could signal plans to sell or reorganize holdings, while the timing suggests the transfers were carefully planned. For now, however, there is no clear evidence that any of these coins have been put up for sale.

That could change, however, as onchain observers may lose track of the coins once logging the initial transfers following 13 years of dormancy fade from attention.

Hero/Feature image source: Mempool.space.