News
Public · Published
$100B and Still Untouched: Satoshi's Estimated Bitcoin Stash Just Got Bigger
In September, 12 separate bitcoin block rewards mined in 2010 were moved for the first time since they were created. This followed a wave of long-dormant bitcoin becoming active, and it raised community questions about whether Satoshi Nakamoto was moving coins.
Published:
Updated:
What happened
In September, 12 separate bitcoin block rewards mined in 2010 were moved for the first time since they were created. This followed a wave of long-dormant bitcoin becoming active, and it raised community questions about whether Satoshi Nakamoto was moving coins.
Confirmed
Global impact / market context
Long-idle bitcoin moving can worry investors because it may signal that early holders are preparing to sell, which could add new supply and weigh on the price. It also fuels speculation about Satoshi's estimated $100 billion stash, which remains untouched.
Analyst inference
Dormant bitcoin waking up is closely watched because old coins are often assumed to belong to early miners or lost wallets. When they move, traders may question whether the broader market will absorb extra supply without a price drop.
Analyst inference
What to watch
- Watch whether more 2010-era block rewards move, since 12 distinct rewards were already shifted in September and the article notes a storm of dormant bitcoin waking up. Confirmed
- A useful proposal is to track whether the newly moved coins then get sent to exchanges, because a deposit would make a future sale more likely and easier to execute. Proposed
- If old coins are sold, that added supply could push bitcoin's price lower, cutting revenue for miners and reducing the cash available to cover their equipment and electricity costs. Analyst inference
Affected assets
- BTC — Bitcoin