Bitcoin Whale Cashes Out 80,202 BTC for 72,000x Profit, Sparks Altcoin Rally

Major bitcoin Whale Sells 80,000 BTC, Sparking Market Shifts to Altcoins
Historic bitcoin Sell-Off by Long-Held Whale
A prominent bitcoin investor has recently made waves in the cryptocurrency world by liquidating their entire stash of over 80,000 BTC, which had remained dormant for 14 years. According to reports from Lookonchain, the wallet transferred the final batch of 40,192 BTC—valued at around $4.83 billion—to Galaxy Digital. This marked the conclusion of a three-day process during which the whale sold a total of 80,202 BTC for approximately $9.53 billion, achieving an impressive average selling price of $118,834. Initially, this bitcoin investor had invested a mere $132,000, resulting in an astonishing profit of 72,000 times the original amount.
Speculations Surrounding Satoshi Nakamoto
The sudden activity from this previously inactive wallet, which had not seen any transactions since 2011, has led to speculation that it may be connected to Satoshi Nakamoto, the enigmatic creator of bitcoin who is known to hold over 1.1 million BTC. The 80,000 BTC was originally acquired in April 2011 at a price of $0.78 per coin and had been quietly divided into eight separate wallets until this recent sell-off. Reports indicate that the movement of these coins began on July 4, 2025, with 40,009 BTC sent to Galaxy Digital, which subsequently transferred 6,000 BTC to exchanges Binance and Bybit for sale. The final batch was moved to another wallet, setting the stage for today’s significant liquidation. While there is no concrete evidence linking this whale to Satoshi, the strategic timing suggests a keen awareness of the ongoing crypto bull market in 2025.
Shift in Market Focus to Altcoins
The exit of this bitcoin whale has redirected market attention toward altcoins. Analysts speculate that a portion of the profits gained from this massive sell-off may now be funneled into ethereum and XRP, both of which are experiencing notable rallies. ethereum has surged by 8% in the last 24 hours, reaching a price of $3,613.48, with a market capitalization of $436.23 billion. Over the past week, ETH has risen by 22% and by 42% in the past month, prompting questions about the reasons behind its recent ascent. Some experts are monitoring two newly established wallets that withdrew over 206,000 ETH, valued at $745 million—one originating from Kraken and the other from FalconX. It’s plausible that these wallets are associated with the same bitcoin whale, who may be diversifying into ethereum following the sale. Significant purchases from entities like World Liberty and BitMine have also contributed to ethereum‘s price increase, with World Liberty acquiring 70,143 ETH for $251 million and BitMine purchasing 137,515 ETH for $476 million, raising their total holdings to 300,657 ETH, worth over $1 billion.
XRP’s Remarkable Performance
XRP has also captured attention in the crypto space, currently trading at $3.60, reflecting an 18% increase in just one day. The token has seen a 40% rise over the past week and a remarkable 66% increase in the last month. There’s speculation that the bitcoin whale or other large investors may now be supporting XRP as well. The overall cryptocurrency market has risen by 4%, surpassing a historic milestone of a $4 trillion market cap for the first time. Many analysts believe that the crypto bull run of 2025 is officially underway. According to crypto analyst Ali Martinez, if bitcoin manages to close above $121,000, it could quickly approach $132,000, potentially setting a new all-time high. With bitcoin already surpassing that threshold today, traders are feeling optimistic. As this major whale exits bitcoin and possibly reallocates funds into ethereum and XRP, market participants are closely monitoring whale wallet activities. The sentiment in the market appears to be shifting, with altcoins taking a more prominent role.
Conclusion: A New Era for Altcoins
The recent sell-off by the bitcoin whale, one of the largest profit-taking events in cryptocurrency history, has undoubtedly influenced market dynamics. With ethereum and XRP experiencing significant rebounds, it is evident that the market is entering a new phase. All eyes are now on whether these altcoins can maintain their momentum as substantial investments flow in.