A Long-Dormant Crypto Wallet Holds $8 Billion in Bitcoin, Originally Purchased for Less Than $210,000. The Transfer of 80,000 BTC Marks a Significant Shift in Cryptocurrency Holdings.
In a shocking turn of events, an ancient beast in the crypto world, known as a whale, has moved 80,000 Bitcoin over the past 24 hours, making the largest single transaction in Bitcoin history. The Bitcoins, which were dormant for over 14 years, are now in new wallets, valued at approximately $8.6 billion as of July 2025.
The owner of these Bitcoins, initially received between April and May 2011 when Bitcoin was priced very low, is widely speculated to be Roger Ver, also known as "Bitcoin Jesus" and one of the earliest Bitcoin investors and evangelists. This speculation is based on blockchain analysis by Bitcoin analyst Sani, who identified six addresses holding 60,000 BTC linked to Roger Ver, along with two additional addresses labeled as "Individual X," totaling the 80,000 BTC moved.
Roger Ver, who is currently residing in Spain and is wanted in the United States on tax fraud charges, has not confirmed or denied the speculation. However, his early investment of less than $210,000 back in 2011, when Bitcoin was priced at around 78 cents, could potentially yield a hypothetical return on investment of nearly 4 million percent.
The motive for the move remains unclear. Some analysts suggest that Roger Ver might be preparing for a possible settlement or negotiation with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS), given his prominence and history in the crypto space. However, others raise the possibility of a security breach or hack, although this is considered less likely by many experts.
A Reddit user named RealVoldermort predicted the historic Bitcoin transaction before it occurred. The transaction involved eight wallets, each containing 10,000 BTC, and they're all owned by the same person. These six wallets, dating back to May 4, 2011, made their Bitcoin moves just hours after the earlier set of wallets from April 2, 2011.
The historic Bitcoin transaction has significantly shaken the world of crypto and finance. Bitcoin is currently trading at $108,000, slightly down from its historic high of $110,000. The true identity of the new owner of the Bitcoins remains unknown, but the weight of analysis supports Roger Ver as the leading candidate for being the owner of the 80,000 BTC moved.
[1] https://www.coindesk.com/bitcoin-price-tops-110k-after-historic-8-billion-transfer [2] https://www.theblockcrypto.com/linked/114662/roger-ver-linked-to-historic-8-billion-bitcoin-transfer-as-crypto-whale [3] https://www.coindesk.com/roger-ver-linked-to-historic-8-billion-bitcoin-transfer-as-crypto-whale [4] https://www.decrypt.co/71423/roger-ver-linked-to-historic-8-billion-bitcoin-transfer-as-crypto-whale
- Given Roger Ver's early investments in Bitcoin and the large volume of Bitcoins moved, there's speculation that he might be using this technology for potential wealth redistribution in his investing efforts, considering the significant returns he could potentially realize from his initial investment.
- As technology continues to advance, the financial landscape is increasingly becoming decentralized, and this historic Bitcoin transaction exemplifies this shift. If verified, Roger Ver's move could serve as a powerful case study for future investors, demonstrating the potential rewards and risks involved in the world of cryptocurrency and finance.
