Dormant Bitcoin whales awaken after a decade, $325m moved ahead of Fed rate decision

Two long-dormant Bitcoin wallets from the early “Satoshi era” have suddenly become active after more than a decade of silence, moving a combined $325 million worth of Bitcoin just ahead of a major U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate decision.

According to blockchain analytics platform Spot On Chain, the first whale transferred 2,343 BTC, valued at approximately $222.2 million, to a new wallet after being inactive for 10.5 years. Historical data shows that this whale originally acquired around 2,187 BTC in July 2013 for just $185,850, an average price of $85 per coin.

The second whale re-emerged after more than 11 years, moving 1,079 BTC worth roughly $102.5 million. This wallet’s Bitcoin holdings were also accumulated in mid-2013 for an estimated $91,713 at a similar per-coin price.

While the exact motivations behind these transfers remain unclear, they could stem from recovered private keys, changes in ownership, or long-term holders preparing to liquidate their positions after years of holding. 

Notably, these significant movements come just before the Federal Reserve’s next interest rate announcement, scheduled for Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

The Federal Reserve is widely expected to maintain its current interest rate range of 4.25% to 4.50%, as policymakers take a cautious “wait-and-see” approach amid ongoing economic uncertainties, including the potential impacts of recent U.S. tariff policies.

These large whale transactions, timed so close to the Fed’s announcement, suggest that these major players may be positioning themselves ahead of expected market volatility. 

Bitcoin has been trading in a narrow range, consolidating between $94,000 and $95,000 following a pullback from $97,700 on May 2.

Further, on-chain data reflects a highly profitable market environment, raising questions about whether some may be preparing to lock in gains.

According to Glassnode, about 88% of Bitcoin’s circulating supply is currently in profit, while most of the losses are sitting with people who bought between $95,000 and $100,000.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin’s MVRV Ratio has pulled back to its long-term mean of 1.74, a level historically associated with consolidation phases and investor reset periods.

Additionally, the Realized Profit/Loss (RPLR) ratio has rebounded above 1.0, suggesting a shift toward profit realization amid improving sentiment.

This kind of high profitability, following a rebound from a long-term mean of 75%, is usually seen as a bullish sign, showing that investor sentiment is improving and the market has reset its expectations. 

However, the Realized Profit/Loss ratio now back above 1.0, signals that more holders might start locking in gains, which could add some short-term selling pressure on price.

At press time, Bitcoin (BTC) was exchanging hands at $94,175 per coin.