A Bitcoin whale who was inactive for more than a decade has recently returned to the market.
The wallet, dubbed “5K BTC OG”, purchased 5,000 BTC in 2012, equivalent to $1.66 million at the time, when Bitcoin was selling for $332.
This veteran Bitcoin holder then remained inactive for over 12 years, until Lookonchain reported that he had begun actively selling his BTC.
Since 04/12/2024, this veteran whale has sold 2,500 BTC with an average exit price of $106,164. WIth $265 million in earnings, he successfully secured 31.250% in profit.
Then, on 18/01/2026, 500 BTC (equal to $47,77 million) was just sold on Binance.
So far, the selling pattern seems to be methodical. The holder transfers 250-500 BTC per transaction. The outflow is distributed across at least 10 transactions to Binance over the past 5 months.
So far, the veteran Bitcoin holder has locked in a profit of over $500 million. This is one of the most profitable hold-to-exit arcs in Bitcoin history.
The whale still holds 2,500 BTC worth around $237.5 million, which may also enter the market soon.
Traders are concerned about the “original” Bitcoin, which has been dormant for a long time, becoming active and liquid once more. Given that the price of Bitcoin is hovering under $100,000, a sell-off at this scale by legacy holders could further depress the market, which is currently in the resistance zone.
On the other hand, long-term investors are celebrating the benefits of the “diamond hands” strategy. Just like “5K BTC OG”, who held onto his Bitcoin for 12 years, long-term investors can reap significant profits if they can hold onto their assets during extreme market conditions.
The substantial profits earned by original Bitcoin holders serve as a real-world example of the value of cryptocurrency as an investment instrument. However, is cryptocurrency better than traditional investment instruments like stocks? Compare the two in the article Difference Between Stocks and Crypto: Which One is More Profitable for Modern Investors?
