Dormant Bitcoin Wallet Wakes Up with $1.75M Gain

A dormant Bitcoin wallet holding millions of dollars has reactivated after a 12-year slumber. The wallet, which began receiving coins in January 2014, held approximately 26.96 BTC until it was moved on August 10, 2026. This marks the second time this month that an old coin has awakened, following a similar instance where a 2011 wallet moved 49.97 BTC.

The return on investment for this wallet is estimated to be around $1.73 million, representing a gain of approximately 7,975% over its average cost of around $803 per coin. This significant increase is attributed to Bitcoin's early years as a thinly traded asset, which made it difficult for holders to keep their keys secure.

The reactivation of this wallet adds to the trend of old coins stirring in recent times. In 2024, a cluster of wallets dormant since 2013 moved $2 billion in Bitcoin in a single session. Another whale relocated 3,000 BTC worth over $349 million after a decade of silence.