12-year Bitcoin whale’s $116 mln move shakes the market – Crash risk?

Bitcoins

bitcoins 12-year Bitcoin whale’s $116 mln move shakes the market - Crash risk?

bitcoins Avatar

Journalist

Posted:

Bitcoins Key Takeaways

Why is Bitcoin gaining attention now?

A dormant whale moved 1,000 BTC, sharks accumulated 12k BTC, and Netflows showed sustained outflows.

What are the key price levels ahead?

Upside targets stand at $118,102–$119,352, while downside risk remains near $115,203.


Since hitting a low of $107k, Bitcoin [BTC] staged a strong comeback and rallied to a local high of $117,266. At press time, BTC traded at $111,151 after rising 1.24% on daily charts.

That move left investors and large entities repositioning strategically.

Bitcoins Dormant whale moves 1,000 BTC

As Bitcoin recovered, dormant coins started to move. In fact, Supply Adjusted Dormancy spiked to 0.0000012 on the 15th of September, then retraced to 0.00000114 on the 16th. 

bitcoins Bitcoin Supply adjusted dormant

Source: CryptoQuant

This suggested that some old BTC moved, although the rise is modest and not a large wave of dormant whales. 

Lookonchain reported one such dormant whale movement. As per the on-chain monitor, a dormant whale woke up after 12 years and transferred 1,000 BTC worth $116.88 million. 

bitcoins Dormant whale transfer

Source: Lookonchain

The whale had received 1,000 BTC at $847 apiece, worth $847k at the time, locking in a profit of over $116 million.

Such dormant transfers often hint at institutional custody preparation or off-market deals. They tend to be neutral to slightly bullish unless tokens move onto exchanges.

Bitcoins Large entities stacking more

While some dormant coins moved, large players continued buying. According to Lookonchain, a newly created whale wallet received 5,817 BTC worth $678 million from FalconX.

Typically, when whales turn to accumulation, it signals conviction with the market, a clear bullish signal.

Aggressive accumulation extended to smaller cohorts. Checkonchain data showed Fish and Sharks’ Balance Change climbed to 62.5k BTC, with 12k BTC added in three days.

bitcoins Bitcoin sharks balance change

Source: Checkonchain

Often, a higher balance change means buying volume outpaced spending, a clear sign of aggressive accumulation. Exchange activities further echoed this trend. 

CryptoQuant data showed Bitcoin’s Exchange Netflow stayed negative for four consecutive days, with one positive print in the last eight.

bitcoins Bitcoin netflow

Source: CryptoQuant

At press time, Netflow was -2.2k BTC, indicating more outflows compared to inflows. Historically, increased accumulation from large entities such as whales causes upward pressure on BTC, a prelude to higher prices. 

Bitcoins What’s next for BTC?

AMBCrypto’s analysis suggested Bitcoin’s rebound aligned with falling spending and stronger accumulation from large entities.

Therefore, if whales continue to accumulate, BTC will undoubtedly make more gains on its price charts. Meaning, BTC could reclaim $118,102 and push toward $119,352.

However, if the coins transferred by a dormant whale end up on exchanges, it will result in significant downward pressure on BTC. Such a scenario can potentially see prices retrace to $115,203.

Gladys Makena Read More

Latest

Embracer Will Spin-Off ‘Fellowship Entertainment’ Into Its Own Company

"this approach represents the most effective long-term solution" by Ollie Reynolds 40 mins ago Image: Amazon Game Studios Embracer has announced its intention to spin-off Fellowship Entertainment into its own company in 2027. In the press release, founder Lars Wingefors states that the approach "represents the most effective long-term solution" for Embracer, with the intention

2027 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Mikey D’Amato, LB, Cal Poly

2027 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Mikey D’Amato, LB, Cal Poly Name: Mikey D’Amato Position: LB College: Cal Poly Height: 6′ 0″ Weight: 235 lbs X: @mikeydamato2 Instagram: @mikey_damato_ What made you decide you wanted to be a football player? It’s kind of in my blood, my pops he actually played in the NFL so honestly

These Types Of Vehicles Typically Depreciate Faster Than Others

Every gearhead has been in this situation. You're surfing through eBay Motors or Facebook Marketplace looking for cars, either just for fun or because you want a new project, and you see it: a European luxury car like a Mercedes S-Class, a BMW 7 Series, or something wild like a Maserati. The price is really

Roundtables: Inside the Musk v. Altman Trial

Watch subscriber-only discussion going behind the scenes of the trial and the implications for the AI race. Available only for MIT Alumni and subscribers. Listen to the session or watch below Elon Musk lost his suit against OpenAI, in which he alleged CEO Sam Altman and President Greg Brockman had deceived him over the company’s

Newsletter

Don't miss

Embracer Will Spin-Off ‘Fellowship Entertainment’ Into Its Own Company

"this approach represents the most effective long-term solution" by Ollie Reynolds 40 mins ago Image: Amazon Game Studios Embracer has announced its intention to spin-off Fellowship Entertainment into its own company in 2027. In the press release, founder Lars Wingefors states that the approach "represents the most effective long-term solution" for Embracer, with the intention

2027 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Mikey D’Amato, LB, Cal Poly

2027 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Mikey D’Amato, LB, Cal Poly Name: Mikey D’Amato Position: LB College: Cal Poly Height: 6′ 0″ Weight: 235 lbs X: @mikeydamato2 Instagram: @mikey_damato_ What made you decide you wanted to be a football player? It’s kind of in my blood, my pops he actually played in the NFL so honestly

These Types Of Vehicles Typically Depreciate Faster Than Others

Every gearhead has been in this situation. You're surfing through eBay Motors or Facebook Marketplace looking for cars, either just for fun or because you want a new project, and you see it: a European luxury car like a Mercedes S-Class, a BMW 7 Series, or something wild like a Maserati. The price is really

Roundtables: Inside the Musk v. Altman Trial

Watch subscriber-only discussion going behind the scenes of the trial and the implications for the AI race. Available only for MIT Alumni and subscribers. Listen to the session or watch below Elon Musk lost his suit against OpenAI, in which he alleged CEO Sam Altman and President Greg Brockman had deceived him over the company’s

Interview: How Volvo built software for a two-and-a-half-tonne moving object

Anders Bell points to his grey hair and laughs. “Three years ago, it was still blond and curly,” says Volvo’s chief engineering and technology officer. The remark is more than self-deprecating. It captures what Volvo has been through: five years of building a software-defined vehicle (SDV) from scratch, as a traditional carmaker, with no blueprint

Tesla’s Business Has Become Much More Diversified in Just the Past Five Years. Does That Make Its Stock a Better Buy Today?

Key Points Tesla's energy generation and storage segment generated 27% revenue growth last year. The company's non-automotive segments were able to help offset a double-digit decline in auto revenue in 2025. These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires › Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) is known for its electric vehicles (EVs), and while they

WD sees sustainability as key business driver in an ‘AI economy’

Hard drive company WD promoted long-term operations and sustainability executive Jackie Jung to become its first chief sustainability officer in February, as it steps up sales to companies building AI data centers. Her vision: Turn sustainability into a “brand” for WD, a strategy that reduces risk for the $6 billion company (formerly known as Western

5 Business Ideas Worth Starting in 2026

If there is one thing Nigerians understand well, it is how to spot opportunity inside hardship. In 2026, that mindset will matter more than ever. The economy is tough, competition is rising, and many people are looking for smarter ways to earn, build, and survive. But even in a difficult environment, some businesses still stand