A Bitcoin wallet that had been inactive for more than 12 years made headlines within the crypto community after transferring 500 BTC in a single transaction. The move on Sunday, May 10, involved around $40 million in Bitcoin, marking the wallet’s first activity since November 2013.
A major transfer after 12 years
Records show that the wallet in question was created on November 27, 2013, and had remained untouched ever since. The transaction was broadcast at block height 948,822. At the time of the wallet’s creation, Bitcoin was trading at around $923, making the 500 BTC stash worth roughly $461,500 back then—a sum that has multiplied nearly 87 times since.
Blockchain data indicates that none of the 500 BTC were sent to exchange accounts following this move. Crypto tracking platforms observed no spike in large-scale selling pressure after the transfer.
Waves of transfers from old wallets
This single transaction was just part of a broader uptick in dormant wallet movements seen across the crypto industry in 2026. On May 10, wallets created between 2013 and 2017 collectively transferred 859.13 BTC, or approximately $69.47 million. Notably, wallets opened in 2017 moved a total of 319.13 BTC across six transactions, while four wallets dating back to 2014 each transferred 10 BTC during the same period.
Such transfers by so-called “sleeping wallets” can sometimes unleash sizable supply waves in the Bitcoin market. However, the latest data suggests there’s no widespread panic or indication of coordinated large-scale selling at present.
Similar moves shape the market
Large Bitcoin transfers from long-dormant addresses are not new in 2026. Earlier this year, a miner wallet from 2010 transferred around 2,000 BTC—close to $200 million—to the crypto exchange Coinbase. Back in September 2025, another wallet inactive for 12 years transferred 1,000 BTC, valued at about $116 million at the time.
Additionally, a wallet believed to be linked to early investor Owen Gunden moved approximately 11,000 BTC in several separate instances. In March 2026, it was reported that sales from these transactions had exceeded a combined market value of $1 billion.
Within the crypto sector, the destination of such transfers is closely watched. Direct transfers to exchanges often raise concerns among investors about potential sell-offs, whereas moves to another private wallet are usually interpreted as a change in storage strategy. Therefore, the ultimate fate of the 500 BTC transferred in May will play a key role in shaping market sentiment.
According to data from CryptoAppsy, Bitcoin traded between $80,500 and $82,458 during these moves, bringing the value of the transferred funds above $40 million.
Experts highlight that transfers from old wallets have accelerated in recent years. In October 2025, daily transfers from legacy Bitcoin supplies reached $2.9 billion, the second-highest level in history. Meanwhile, the average age of spent coins increased from 26 days in early 2023 to about 100 days by October 2025.
