A cryptocurrency user reactivated an account that had been inactive for 12 years
and transferred 1,000 bitcoins, equivalent to about 117 million
dollars at the current price, according to the firm Lookonchain. The operation has
caused excitement in the crypto community.
The story began in
2013, just four years after the creation of Bitcoin, when the
user received 1,000 units at a value of 847 dollars each. Since
then, the cryptocurrency has skyrocketed and recently surpassed 117,000
dollars per unit.
The term “whale” is used to describe
those who hold more than 1,000 bitcoins, capable of moving the market with
their operations. On this occasion, the transfer did not cause
significant fluctuations, despite the volume and the market value
currently of Bitcoin, which exceeds 2.3 trillion dollars.
In recent
years, more and more owners have recovered forgotten bitcoins
or protected in inactive wallets, both for investment opportunities
and for security against possible hacks. Whales
often spread their funds in various directions to protect their
assets.
Although 1,000 bitcoins is a notable figure, it is not the
largest transfer of the year. In July 2025, another whale moved 80,000
bitcoins that had been inactive for 14 years, equivalent to 8.6
billion dollars, the largest operation recorded according to
CryptoQuant.
Currently, it is estimated that there are 1,455 whales with more than 1,000
bitcoins, but only about 100 exceed 10,000. Barely four own
more than 50,000 bitcoins, valued at 5.8 billion dollars,
consolidating their position in the cryptocurrency elite.
