Satoshi-Era Bitcoin Whale Moves $9.6B to Galaxy Digital After 14 Years of Holding

Andrew Chen
BITCOIN

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Key Takeaways:

  • 80,201 BTC worth $9.6B was moved from a dormant whale to Galaxy Digital in just four days.
  • Analysts suggest this could be profit-taking, wallet restructuring, or investment in new ventures.
  • Bitcoin’s continued rise to new all-time highs brings both institutional activity and ideological concerns to the fore.

A once-dormant Bitcoin whale from the Satoshi era has shocked the crypto world by transferring a total of 80,201 BTC, worth approximately $9.6 billion, to Galaxy Digital within just four days. According to blockchain monitoring services Onchain Lens and Lookonchain, the whale initiated movement on July 4, marking the first activity in 14 years.

The funds were originally accumulated through two major deposits: 20,000 BTC on April 2, 2011, and 60,009 BTC on May 4, 2021. With Bitcoin prices exceeding $122,000 earlier this week, the whale’s total holdings surged in value, prompting strategic movement of the massive stash.

Galaxy Digital Receives Entire 80,201 BTC

The first chunk—40,009 BTC—was transferred to Galaxy Digital on Tuesday. The remaining 40,192 BTC followed shortly after, confirmed by Onchain Lens on Thursday. The full amount now resides under the asset management firm’s control, raising questions about whether Galaxy purchased the holdings or is simply acting as a custodian.

Crypto trader Marty Party speculated in a post on X:

“IMO: They bought all 80k, sold some and will hold some, and use the proceeds to benefit their businesses. Well played. The 80k is off the market.”

Exchange Transfers Hint at Profit-Taking

Alongside the Galaxy Digital movements, blockchain analytics platform Nansen observed at least 6,000 BTC being transferred to Binance and Bybit, fueling speculation that the whale may be cashing out some profits.

Source: Onchain Lens 

Kadan Stadelmann, CTO of Komodo Platform, noted that the activity might indicate the whale is securing “jaw-dropping profits.” However, he emphasized that such transfers don’t necessarily signal a full exit from the market.

“The whale could be engaging in wallet housekeeping or planning a new Bitcoin venture,” he added.

Not Just About the Money?

Stadelmann also floated the idea that the whale may be disillusioned with Bitcoin’s current direction, particularly its increased institutional adoption and regulatory scrutiny, which clash with Bitcoin’s crypto-anarchist roots.

Also Read: BTC Digital Raises $6M to Abandon Bitcoin Mining for Ethereum Treasury Strategy

The possibility remains that the whale’s moves are more strategic than liquidative—reallocating funds, securing family wealth, or supporting ideologically aligned projects.

The Bitcoin price surge to over $122,000 has also propelled Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin’s anonymous creator, to an estimated $131 billion net worth, making them theoretically the 11th richest person in the world, according to Forbes’ billionaire rankings.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The author’s views are personal and may not reflect the views of Chain Affairs. Before making any investment decisions, you should always conduct your own research. Chain Affairs is not responsible for any financial losses

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