Bitcoin Wallets Soar Amid Coldcard Hack Fallout

A surge in Bitcoin wallet creation has pushed the number of new wallets to a 2026 high, according to data from Santiment. This week alone saw 2.27 million new wallets and 751,000 active wallets, marking the strongest onchain activity in months.

The spike is attributed to holders racing to move funds off Coldcard hardware wallets following a firmware exploit that has drained more than $116 million in BTC since July 30.

Exchange inflows remained below July's average, suggesting security moves rather than a selling wave. This indicates defensive behavior among investors, who are prioritizing security over buying and trading.