In March 2020 a Wallet Received 4,582 Bitcoin Worth $40.8 Million, Days Before the Covid Crash. Six and a Half Years Later It Moved Them Out, Worth $377 Million.
A Bitcoin whale that bought over 4,500 coins just before the COVID crash sat completely still for six and a half years, then suddenly split its fortune across five addresses. Whether this signals a long-overdue exit or something else entirely…
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A Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) whale, a term used to describe wallets that hold large amounts of Bitcoin, has just moved approximately 4,582 BTC—worth around $378 million—for the first time since March 2020. This transaction occurred on October 12, 2026, when the coins were transferred to five different addresses. The wallet, identified as 18Vm…VpQ9x, received these Bitcoins just days before the COVID-19 market crash, when their value was about $40.8 million.
The on-chain analytics platform Lookonchain flagged the move, using data from Arkham, a blockchain intelligence service that tracks and labels cryptocurrency wallets. CoinGecko also highlighted the transfer in its daily newsletter on October 13.
A transaction of this magnitude often raises eyebrows, leading many to speculate whether the holder is preparing to sell. However, by October 13, the moved Bitcoin remained in the new addresses, and trackers had yet to identify any deposits to exchanges. So, is this whale gearing up to sell, or simply reorganizing its assets?
The Whale Held Through the Covid Crash and a $126,080 Record
The timing of this transaction is notable. The wallet received its coins just before a severe market downturn, as investors scrambled to sell during the initial COVID panic. The Bitcoins arrived at an average cost of around $8,904 each, putting the wallet underwater almost immediately. Despite this shaky start, the owner held on through both a booming bull market and a challenging bear market, as well as major milestones like the launch of U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs and a new all-time high price.
At Bitcoin’s highest price of $126,080, that stack would have been worth about $577.7 million, or almost $200 million not realized if the owner had sold at the peak. Yet traders often miss the exact high, especially when they’ve weathered such volatility early in their ownership.
A Wallet Transfer Shows Coins Moving, Not Coins Being Sold
When a holder transfers coins between addresses, it merely changes their location on the blockchain. This action doesn’t indicate a sale or involvement of a buyer on the other end. Wallet addresses are like public account numbers, and an owner can manage multiple addresses.
Several scenarios could explain this transfer:
- Security Upgrade. The holder might be reorganizing their coins into newer wallets with enhanced security features, such as multi-signature setups requiring multiple keys for approval.
- Estate Planning. The coins might be split for security or estate management reasons, allowing heirs to inherit separate portions.
- Preparation for Sale. The transfer could signal intent to break down a large amount of Bitcoin into smaller pieces for easier trading on exchanges.
- New Custodian. The coins may be moving to a more regulated custodian to safeguard the assets on clients’ behalf.
An Exchange Deposit Would Separate a Sale From a Reshuffle
A crucial factor that could clarify the whale’s intentions will be whether the moved coins are deposited to an exchange. As of October 13, that hadn’t happened. However, many large Bitcoin transactions happen off-chain through private brokers, making it difficult for trackers to see all trading activity.
Currently, data indicates no surge in selling activity. Whale deposits on exchanges average around $61 million over the past three months, the lowest level seen since 2021. Typically, an uptick in these deposits precedes selling waves, as whales need to transfer their coins to exchanges to sell them. Given the current trend, large holders seem to be doing the opposite and holding onto their coins.
Is This Bitcoin Whale Ready to Sell?
Most indications suggest this is a custody reorganization, with a long-term holder moving coins into a more secure setup. This whale has shown considerable patience, holding its coins through various market phases without moving them. Unless these coins show up on an exchange or whale deposits rise significantly, it seems likely this is just an asset reshuffle rather than a precursor to a sale.
Future tracking could provide clarity. If Lookonchain links these coins to an exchange deposit address, that will imply readiness for a sale. Similarly, a rise in whale exchange deposits above $61 million could suggest a broader selling trend. On the other hand, if Bitcoin approaches its all-time high of $126,080 and these assets remain untouched, it would be strong evidence that the whale is a long-term holder.
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Sam Daodu is a crypto analyst who's spent nearly a decade making blockchain understandable—no easy task when most whitepapers read like fever dreams. He writes for 24/7 Wall St., covering Bitcoin, altcoins, and crypto market analysis for investors. Before crypto, he was a tech writer (back when explaining "the cloud" was peak innovation). Since 2018, he's written for CoinTelegraph, Yahoo Finance, The Block, Cryptonews, Zypto, Rain, and more—basically anywhere people want crypto news without the headache. Sam runs MacLabs Marketing, a content agency for crypto brands tired of sounding like AI wrote their website. He also publishes free crypto education on his site for Web3 enthusiasts who think "gas fees" is a typo. When he's not writing or staring at charts, Sam's either: - Watching anime (currently convinced One Piece has better tokenomics than most altcoins) - At the gym sculpting himself into a Greek god - Listening to the music your mum warned you only bad boys listen to Connect: LinkedIn | Email | MacLabs Marketing
