An Ethereum wallet that had been inactive for nearly 10 years has suddenly sprung to life — and it's holding millions. On May 24, 2025, blockchain watchers spotted movement from a pre-mine era address, originally created in 2015, which received 2,153 ETH during Ethereum’s Genesis phase. Back then, the $ETH was worth just $667. Today, that same stash is valued at over $5.43 million, marking an astronomical 814,661% increase.
The wallet, identified as 0x10df68, made its first transaction in 9.8 years by transferring 30 ETH (approx. $75,970) to another address: 0x967e37. Not long after, the funds were broken up and routed through Tornado Cash, a controversial crypto mixing service designed to obscure transaction histories and wallet ownership.
According to on-chain data, the second wallet rapidly split the funds into smaller increments — mostly 1 $ETH per transaction — and funneled them through the privacy protocol. This behavior has raised eyebrows across the crypto community, especially since Tornado Cash has previously been linked to both legitimate privacy uses and illicit activities.
As of now, the second wallet holds just 2.78 ETH (under $7,000). The original wallet still contains over 2,100 ETH, worth more than $5.2 million, and has not made any further transactions.
Vitalik Buterin Link?
The timing and nature of the wallet have triggered speculation about its owner. Since this wallet predates Ethereum’s public release, only a small number of individuals — including Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin — would have had access to such pre-mine addresses.
Adding fuel to the fire is Buterin’s public stance on privacy in crypto and his known past support for Tornado Cash, which he has admitted to using himself. While there's no concrete evidence connecting him to this wallet, the overlap of circumstances has led many to question if this quiet move might belong to one of Ethereum’s founding figures.
What’s Next?
At the moment, it's unclear what the wallet owner plans to do with the remaining $ETH . Given the discreet withdrawal and use of a mixer, it may signal further liquidation or simply a cautious probe to test security and privacy before more significant moves.
This event underscores the ongoing fascination with long-dormant crypto wallets, especially those tied to Ethereum’s earliest days. Whether this was just a privacy-minded OG moving some funds — or a major figure like Vitalik making a quiet appearance — the market is watching closely.
