16,000 Ancient Bitcoins Just Moved—And It’s Costing Whales Billions
A cluster of long-idle Bitcoin moved again into circulation Wednesday, elevating recent questions on promoting stress as costs slide from current highs.
Sleeping Coins Stir After Years
According to CryptoQuant analyst JA Maartun, precisely 15,965 BTC that had been idle for about three years have been shifted earlier within the day. The cash moved whereas Bitcoin traded under $110,000, and at roughly $108,000 a coin the batch is value about $1.724 billion.
CryptoQuant’s on-chain data present these addresses had little to no exercise since late 2022 and early 2023, and the funds have been despatched to undisclosed locations.
Market watchers flagged the timing. Old cash waking up throughout a pullback can sign profit-taking, or just inner reshuffles between personal accounts and buying and selling venues.
Reports have disclosed that such strikes generally mirror tax planning, alternate custody adjustments, or massive holders adjusting positions — however the actual motive right here shouldn’t be public.
15,965 BTC aged 2–3 years simply moved on-chain
This cohort has been dormant since late 2022–2023—till now. pic.twitter.com/vw2z0fjHvv
— Maartunn (@JA_Maartun) October 22, 2025
New Whales Underwater
Data from market trackers level to stress on newer massive holders who purchased close to current highs. Those so-called new whales carry a mean price of $113,000 per BTC, leaving many positions underwater whereas costs commerce under that degree. The unrealized losses tied to those wallets are approaching $7 billion, based on the identical datasets.
At the identical time, accumulation by different large wallets continues. Analysts reported that about 26,500 BTC have flowed into accumulation addresses in current days, an indication that some massive gamers are including quietly through the dip.
This mixture of promoting and shopping for creates a tug-of-war in worth motion. Short-term dynamics are fragile. Support round $107,000–$108,000 is one degree merchants are watching carefully. If that zone holds, a bounce is feasible; if it fails, additional draw back towards $100,000 might observe.
Price Targets Spark Debate
The large actions have intensified debate over how high Bitcoin may go subsequent. According to public feedback, the CEO of Galaxy Digital mentioned reaching $250,000 by year-end would require “a heck of loads of crazy stuff.”
Other market figures hold extra bullish targets in play: Fundstrat’s Tom Lee and BitMEX’s Arthur Hayes have every voiced conviction in $200,000–$250,000 outcomes, pointing to potential coverage strikes and inflows as drivers.
Institutional numbers are a part of the backdrop. Galaxy Digital reported a document quarter with $29 billion in income, a determine that supporters cite as proof of rising institutional involvement available in the market. That development is a part of why some buyers stay assured at the same time as short-term charts wobble.
Open Interest Falls, Risk Eases
Meanwhile, on-chain analytics supplier Glassnode exhibits open curiosity has dropped by about 30%, decreasing a few of the extra speculative stress that may amplify strikes.
Lower open curiosity typically cools violent swings and makes worth developments simpler to learn, not less than till recent catalysts arrive.
Featured picture from Pexels, chart from TradingView

