According to on-chain analytics data, the movement of inactive bitcoins increased by 121% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the first quarter of 2024.
This change may indicate that long-term investors are responding to broader economic trends or anticipating changes in the market.
Activation of dormant bitcoin: What is driving this trend?
In a recent post on CryptoQuant, an analyst reported that investors moved approximately 28,000 inactive bitcoins in the first quarter of 2024. March was particularly notable, with around 19,296 bitcoins being moved. This contrasted with lower figures in January (approximately 3,034 bitcoins) and February (approximately 5,678 bitcoins). Compared to the first quarter of 2025, the total number of moved bitcoins was significantly higher. Over 62,000 bitcoins that had been inactive for more than seven years were transferred. Specifically, investors moved 24,595 bitcoins in January, 21,820 bitcoins in February, and 16,456 bitcoins in March.
An analyst suggested that this surge in activity reflects a shift in sentiment among long-term bitcoin holders. This change may be driven by macroeconomic factors, changing price expectations, or liquidity needs from institutions.
It is important to note that 2025 has proven to be turbulent for bitcoin. Geopolitical changes, increasing trade tensions, and rising economic concerns have significantly impacted the market.
Recently, Glassnode noted that bitcoin experienced the deepest cycle decline. In its weekly newsletter, the company emphasized that investors are facing intense pressure. Moreover, many are now experiencing the largest unrealized losses in history. However, Glassnode pointed out that the drop in bitcoin remains within the typical corrections observed in bullish markets. Importantly, bitcoin has also recently resumed its growth.
Over the past week, its value has increased by 8.9%. However, daily losses were 2.2%. At the time of writing, bitcoin was trading at $92,164. The decline was not isolated, as the broader crypto market also experienced a correction. Meanwhile, the increased movement of inactive assets is not limited to bitcoin. A parallel trend has emerged in the Ethereum (ETH) market. Data from Lookonchain showed that at the beginning of February, one whale deposited all of its assets amounting to 77,736 ETH on Bitfinex after six years of inactivity.
At the beginning of April, Onchain Lens reported on an eight-year inactive whale that moved 11,104 ETH worth $19.97 million. This movement of assets reflects a strategic repositioning of investors amid economic uncertainty.#BinanceAlphaAlert #BinanceSquare #Write2Earn #Squar2earn #Binance $ETH