According to a new CryptoQuant report, 2025 has officially broken the record for long-term Bitcoin movement, with over 270,000 BTC that had been inactive for more than seven years suddenly changing hands, surpassing 2024’s total with two months still remaining in the year.
Data shows a sharp acceleration in the transfer of “ancient” coins:
- 2023: 59,000 BTC moved
- 2024: 255,000 BTC moved
- 2025: 270,000 BTC moved (All-Time High)
Analysts say these movements represent one of the largest awakenings of early-era Bitcoin wallets since the 2017 bull cycle, signaling renewed activity from miners and early adopters who had held their reserves untouched for years.
Old Holders on the Move – Why It’s Happening Now
CryptoQuant’s analysts outlined several possible explanations for the historic uptick:
- Old miners moving reserves: Early Bitcoin miners, many from the pre-2016 era, appear to be shifting funds, either to secure new storage or to capture profit near record prices.
- Cold wallet migrations: Security best practices have evolved significantly since 2017, prompting large holders to migrate coins into fresh cold wallets or multi-signature setups.
- Strategic liquidations: With Bitcoin trading around $110,800, some long-term holders may be cashing out small portions of their holdings to rebalance portfolios while maintaining core exposure.
What the Trend Means for the Market
While some traders interpret this surge in dormant coin activity as a potential early-warning signal of profit-taking, analysts caution that the data doesn’t indicate a mass sell-off. Much of the movement appears to be internal transfers or security migrations rather than exchange inflows.
Still, large-scale movement of old coins tends to draw attention from on-chain analysts because these wallets often belong to early miners, institutional custodians, or high-net-worth entities with outsized influence on market sentiment.
At current prices, the 270,000 BTC moved this year is valued at over $29.9 billion, highlighting the scale of wealth re-entering circulation, even if only partially.
Market Context: Bitcoin Holds Steady Above $110K
According to CoinMarketCap data, Bitcoin trades at $110,837, up 5.29% over the past week, maintaining a market capitalization of $2.21 trillion. Trading volume has cooled to about $50 billion in 24 hours, reflecting ongoing consolidation above the key $105K–$110K range.
