Bitcoin’s OGs Wake Up! 🤯

Right. So, apparently some really, really old Bitcoin addresses decided to have a bit of a spending spree in 2025. Like, dormant for YEARS, and suddenly they’re moving over $11 billion worth of Bitcoin. Honestly? It’s a bit like finding a tenner in an ancient coat pocket – except, you know, slightly more dramatic. 🙄

‘Sleeping Bitcoin’ Addresses Moved Nearly 124,000 BTC in 2025, Data Shows

Btcparser.com version one keeps track of over 60,000 ‘sleeping’ Bitcoin wallets – basically, the ones you’d expect to be six feet under, financially speaking. These wallets were all created between 2009 and 2017, which honestly feels like a lifetime ago in crypto years. Unlike 2024, no wallets from the very beginning (2009!) actually moved any funds. And 2010-era wallets? They went quiet too, but 2011 was where things got interesting…very interesting indeed.

The biggest moment? July. Just a small cluster (ha!) of wallets from 2011 transferred more than 80,000 BTC. That’s more than two-thirds of all the ‘dormant’ spending for the entire year. Apparently, it was one early adopter who decided to cash out with the help of Galaxy Digital. Though, to be honest, $9 billion down to $7 billion? Talk about a fluctuating portfolio! 📉

A Year of Reawakened Bitcoin Supply

So, Btcparser looks at what old Bitcoin addresses spend each month since their creation. These addresses had never moved funds before – not a single blip- until suddenly, voilà, they appeared on the blockchain. Dramatic, isn’t it?

Throughout all 12 months of 2025, 1,047 dormant wallets woke up and spent nearly 124,000 BTC. Most months were pretty calm – around 1,500 to 6,000 BTC – except for July, of course. That was, shall we say, exceptionally lively. 💃

January started the year with 3,412.52 BTC spent by 88 wallets. February was slower, with 1,549.41 BTC and 66 wallets. March? Similar story, 2,145.06 BTC across 67 addresses. Such consistency. Truly thrilling. 😴

Midyear Acceleration Culminates in July Spike

April and May picked up the pace – 4,681.14 and 5,798.34 BTC respectively, 100 and 93 wallets waking up, all from wallets created between 2013 and 2015. Then…June was a bit of a lull. Slightly depressing, actually. 1,671.45 BTC spent by 43 wallets. But then came July and its 83,865.75 BTC. More than the previous six months combined! Seriously!

And it was just 13 wallets from 2011 that spent over 80,056 BTC in July alone. Each moving around 10,000 BTC! Galaxy Digital helped with the sell-off, apparently.

Early-Era Wallets Dominate Spending Totals

Throughout 2025, wallets created between 2011 and 2014 spent the most. The ones from 2016 and 2017 chipped in too, but they were moving smaller amounts. A wallet from 2010 spent a single coinbase reward in February. And five from 2010 stirred in July and moved five coinbase rewards worth 250 BTC. Oh and even some physical Bitcoin wallets from the Casascius era were redeemed in December…for 2,000 BTC. Seriously, it’s all a bit much.

What 2025 would look like for dormant bitcoin spends if that 1 entity that spent just over 80,000 BTC was removed.

It turns out the vast majority of early Bitcoin is still held by a tiny number of people, and when they decide to move it, it makes a difference. Who knew? 🤷‍♀️

Post-July Activity Returns to Typical Ranges

After the July chaos, things calmed down. August saw 9,062.74 BTC spent by 157 wallets. September to November were all pretty consistent – 2,500 to 2,800 BTC each month. December closed out the year with 3,607.62 BTC and 60 wallets, including those fascinating Casascius redemptions.

Cohort Patterns Reveal Uneven Influence

Honestly, it seems like a few old wallets made a big impact while tons of others mostly just…sat there. A single wallet from the early days could drastically change the monthly totals.

Long-Dormant Supply Remains a Market Factor

This research proves that tons of old Bitcoin is still out there – and it can affect the market. Even though many wallets reactivated throughout the year, spending was driven by a small group. As Bitcoin ages, these original wallets remain a unique factor.

Basically, the early adopters still have a lot of power. 👑

FAQ ❓

What is a dormant Bitcoin address?
A dormant Bitcoin address is… well, an address that did absolutely nothing for years and years until suddenly it decided to spend some funds.
How much Bitcoin did dormant wallets spend in 2025?
A whopping 123,852.58 BTC. Honestly, it’s a bit scary to think about.
Which month had the highest dormant Bitcoin spending?
July. Obviously. Duh.
Which wallet creation years dominated spending?
Wallets created between 2011 and 2014. They’re the OGs.

2026-01-04 18:59