Bitcoin wallets dormant for over a decade move $40 million

Six Bitcoin wallets that had been inactive since between 2011 and 2014 recently moved a total of 553.59 BTC, valued at approximately $40 million. The transfers occurred between August 16 and August 26, 2026. One of the wallets had remained dormant for over 15 years.

Data from Galaxy Digital indicates that five of the six wallets transferred funds to addresses with no known links to centralized cryptocurrency exchanges. The sixth wallet moved 40 BTC to Boerse Stuttgart Digital, a German-based custody and transaction service provider. Because most movements avoided exchanges, analysts suggest the transfers may represent strategic reallocations, such as moving assets to institutional custody, rather than immediate market selling.

Alex Thorn, head of research at Galaxy Digital, noted that the overall movement of “sleeping Bitcoin” has declined significantly, reaching its lowest level since the third quarter of 2022. Projections suggest that total dormant Bitcoin transfers in 2026 could be less than half of the volume seen in 2025. Additionally, two of the active wallets are reportedly linked to a legal case in New York involving claims over dormant addresses.