An Ethereum">Ethereum wallet containing 2,000 ETH, worth about $3.2 million, has shown sudden signs of activity after lying dormant since 2015.
The pre-mine era wallet transferred its entire balance to four new addresses after 8.2 years of inactivity, according to blockchain tracker Whale Alert.
The wallet’s original stash of ETH was obtained during Ethereum’s genesis and initial coin offering period. At the time, the 2,000 ETH was only worth around $620.
Now worth millions, the awakened whale exemplifies the meteoric rise of Ethereum since its early days. Big transfers from long-idle wallets often raise questions around the owner and purpose behind the unexpected activity.
Ethereum itself also saw a price boost this week, partly based on false reports that the SEC approved a Bitcoin ETF. Whale wallets holding 1 million+ ETH now control over 30% of the supply, the highest since 2016.
As Ethereum powers the growth of DeFi and NFTs, more awakened whale wallets housing ETH riches from the early years could continue to emerge.
