Whale Stirring in Bitcoin’s Slumber Party 🐋💸

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My dear fellow, it seems our old acquaintance from 2010 has decided to grace us with their presence once more. After a yearlong absence-last spotted in November 2024-the elusive 2010-era mega whale has resurfaced, rousing 2,000 long-slumbering bitcoins mined during bitcoin’s earliest chapter. The hoard, now valued at a rather tidy $181 million, was swept in a single, clean transaction at block height 931668. How very… tidy.

Early Bitcoin Miner Breaks Silence, Transfers 2,000 BTC Held Since 2010

TopMob has been chronicling this particular whale since 2020, ever since we deduced it’s likely a single entity rather than a “gang of wallets” playing dress-up. Further blockchain examination suggests this entity had been quietly unloading 2010 coinbase rewards long before we even knew to look. One must admire their patience-or perhaps their disdain for modern finance.

Notably, the whale’s previous sighting occurred on Nov. 14, 2024, after which it vanished for the entirety of 2025. The pattern? A mirror of Jan. 10, 2026, when it spent 40 coinbase rewards mined in 2010, clearing them at block 870,329. The latest move? Flagged by btcparser.com, as if to say, “I’m here, but don’t expect a party.”

“A miner just sold 2,000 BTC from block rewards dormant since 2010, transferring the funds to Coinbase Exchange,” wrote Sani, founder of timechainindex.com, on X. “The funds were held in 40 P2PK addresses,” the analyst added. One might say, “How very 2010 of them.”

The P2PK wallets funneled the 2,000 BTC into a consolidated P2SH address, which, in a twist of fate, landed at Coinbase. This wasn’t a one-off, you understand. The whale’s earlier transactions, uncovered by Bitcoin.com News, have repeatedly shown ties to Coinbase-linked wallets. One must wonder if they’ve grown fond of the service-or simply trust the algorithm more than their own memory.

Twenty of the 40 P2PK addresses that moved 50 BTC each on Jan. 10, 2026. One might call it a “modest” start.

Adding another wrinkle, the matching bitcoin cash ( BCH) tied to these same block rewards was shuffled roughly five years ago. This whale-previously caught offloading tens of thousands of coins-has appeared largely indifferent to bitcoin’s price swings. A true maverick, or perhaps a man who’s seen too many market crashes to care.

The other 20 of the 40 P2PK addresses that moved 50 BTC each on Jan. 10, 2026. A veritable parade of coins.

For instance, it could have unloaded this batch when BTC topped six figures; on Oct. 6, the take would have been roughly $126,000 per coin. Instead, the coins moved today with BTC sitting just north of the $90,000 mark. That price indifference has become a defining trait of this whale’s onchain behavior. One suspects timing the market is not their forte.

Whether prices sit at record highs or cool-off levels, the entity’s actions suggest a methodical, long-term unwind rather than a reactive trade. Moreover, with a bitcoin stash this deep, marginal price differences hardly seem consequential. When bitcoin once changed hands between $0.01 and $0.40, even a $90,000 price tag still represents an eye-watering payoff. A true masterclass in patience-or perhaps a man who’s forgotten his own password.

For now, the whale slips back into the shadows, leaving analysts to wait for the next movement from one of bitcoin’s earliest miners. If history is any guide, the silence may last months-or years-before another neatly packaged string of 2010-era rewards quietly makes its way onto the chain. One must admire the drama.

FAQ 🐋

  • Who moved the 2,000 BTC? A long-dormant bitcoin whale tied to 2010-era mining rewards transferred the funds after more than a year of inactivity. A true phantom of the blockchain.
  • Where did the bitcoin go? The 2,000 BTC was consolidated and sent to Coinbase-linked wallets, according to onchain data. One suspects they’ll be converting them into tea and crumpets.
  • When were the bitcoins originally mined? The coins came from block rewards mined in 2010 during bitcoin’s earliest years. A time when “blockchain” meant a chain of blocks, not a buzzword.
  • Why does this whale’s activity matter? Large moves from early bitcoin miners often draw attention due to their size, age, and potential market impact. Or perhaps because they’re just too dramatic.

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2026-01-10 18:59