A bitcoin whale resurfaces after 12 years of inactivity and mobilizes US$84 millones

Imagine recovering a wallet lost more than a decade ago valued today in the tens of millions of dollars. Exactly that happened in recent days when a bitcoin whale that had been dormant for more than 12 years reactivated its account and sent 909 BTC — now valued at $84 million — to a new address.

The whale that woke up with colossal gains

In late January, according to data captured by blockchain researchers at Whale Alert and Lookonchain, the wallet labeled “1A2hq… pZGZm” moved its capital to the address “bc1qk… sxaeh”. While the amount may seem surprising, what’s really remarkable is the whale’s track record: it first accumulated its bitcoins in 2013, when the cryptocurrency was trading below $7.

This means that this account is recording unrealized gains of more than 13,000% — a return that illustrates the long-term potential of digital assets. With BTC currently trading around $83,850 following a 6.56% correction over the past 24 hours, this whale’s move resurfaces against a backdrop of widespread volatility in the market.

Preparing for a Mass Sale?

The reappearance of sleeping whales always leads to speculation on social media about potential profit-taking operations. In fact, this pattern intensified following BTC’s rally above $100,000 last year, waking up multiple old addresses loaded with huge paper gains.

However, there is one crucial detail: none of the transferred coins have been sent to exchanges so far. This suggests that the move could be due to consolidation or security measures, rather than an imminent preparation to sell. In the words of analysts, the move could simply be a reordering of the wallet rather than a harbinger of liquidation.

XRP crumbles amid widespread correction

While the bitcoin whale grabbed the spotlight, other high-risk assets were experiencing selling pressure. XRP fell by roughly 6.52% in 24 hours, touching USD 1.79 from its previous levels of USD 1.91. The cryptocurrency pierced key supports around USD 1.87 on elevated volume, erasing the previous week’s gains.

Traders are now watching the USD 1.80 level as critical support. A sustained move above USD 1.87–USD 1.90 would be necessary to confirm that the correction is temporary; otherwise, it could indicate the start of a deeper fall. This picture reflects a broader correction of the high-risk digital asset market, where speculative positions are being recalibrated.