On July 17, 2025, a Satoshi-era Bitcoin whale, dormant since 2011, transferred 40,191.5 BTC—valued at $4.8 billion—to Galaxy Digital, per Cryptos Newss and Arkham Intelligence. This follows an earlier transfer of 40,010 BTC ($4.7 billion) to Galaxy Digital on July 15, completing the movement of 80,202 BTC ($9.54 billion) from a wallet holding 80,009 BTC, originally acquired at $0.78 per coin in 2011. The whale’s initial $62,400 investment surged 15.4 million percent to $9.6 billion. The transfers, executed in 15 batches from address “bc1qs…f4au0” starting Thursday evening, signal a potential large-scale sale.
The wallet’s owner remains unknown, sparking speculation from Roger Ver to Satoshi Nakamoto, though Coinbase’s Conor Grogan suggests it’s likely a 2011 miner. The wallet, linked to eight addresses holding 10,000 BTC each since July 4, 2025, reflects early mining activity when block rewards were 50 BTC. Historical data from Nansen confirms the whale’s coins were mined in April–May 2011, ruling out high-profile names without further proof.
Galaxy Digital’s OTC desk, known for deep liquidity and privacy, is ideal for whales aiming to sell without market disruption. Of the 40,010 BTC moved earlier, 6,000 BTC ($706 million) reached exchanges like Binance and Bybit. The latest 40,191.5 BTC remains in Galaxy’s custody (address “bc1q0…pqesl”), with prior transfers to Bitstamp, Coinbase, and Gemini indicating preparatory distribution. OTC sales minimize price slippage, but any exchange deposits could signal sell pressure.
Bitcoin’s price dipped 6% from $123,153 to $116,900 after the July 15 transfers, partly due to the whale’s moves and a hotter-than-expected U.S. CPI report (2.7% YoY). No sharp correction followed the July 17 transfer, but analysts warn of volatility if more BTC hits exchange order books. Galaxy’s OTC strategy may mute immediate impacts, but support levels at $112,000–$115,000 are critical. Investors should monitor Galaxy’s wallet via Cryptos Newss or posts on X for further activity. Long-term HODLers remain unfazed, holding 69% of BTC supply, suggesting resilience despite short-term risks.
