In a move that sent the crypto community into a frenzy, two Bitcoin wallets that had remained dormant for over 14 years suddenly sprang to life late Thursday night.
The wallets, each holding 10,000 BTC were originally funded on April 3, 2011, when a larger wallet transferred 23,377.83 BTC to three different addresses. Of the three, two received 10,000 BTC each, while the third was sent 3,377.83 BTC which was moved shortly after the transfer in 2011.
However, the two main wallets labeled “12tLs…xj2me” and “1KbrS…AWJYm” sat completely still for over a decade. Then, in a span of just 30 minutes between late Thursday and early Friday, both wallets moved their full balances to new addresses.
The newly activated wallets had only ever received that single transaction back in 2011, hence essentially recent transfers mark their first activity in 14 years.
What makes the story more striking is the dramatic rise in value over the years. Back in 2011, the combined 20,000 BTC was worth only about $7,800. Today, that same amount works up to an astonishing $2.18 billion.
The identity behind the wallets, or whether they are controlled by one or multiple individuals, remains a mystery much like who Satoshi Nakamoto is.
The reasons for the sudden movement of funds are also unclear.
