Record-Breaking Bitcoin Sale May Be Tied to 2011 Wallet Scandal

Bitcoin

Record-Breaking Bitcoin Sale May Be Tied to 2011 Wallet Scandal

A massive Bitcoin transfer that shook the crypto world may have deeper roots than previously thought.

A staggering 80,000 Bitcoin—worth over $9 billion—has been moved in what Galaxy Digital calls one of the largest nominal BTC transactions in history. While the company states the sale was part of a legacy planning strategy for a Satoshi-era investor, one crypto analyst believes there may be far more to the story.

In a landmark move for the crypto world, Galaxy facilitated the massive sale on behalf of a client said to be an early adopter. But the origins of those coins are now under intense scrutiny.

Ki Young Ju, CEO of blockchain analytics firm CryptoQuant, shared a striking theory: the BTC in question may trace back to wallets linked to MyBitcoin, one of the earliest custodial services in the crypto space. The service collapsed in 2011 after a hack, and the wallets involved in this recent transfer had been dormant since April of that year—just months before the platform’s downfall.

According to Ju, there’s a strong possibility the coins were either controlled by the hacker or by MyBitcoin’s reclusive founder, Tom Williams. The revelation raises questions about ownership and whether Galaxy Digital performed any forensic checks on the source of the funds.

Ju suspects Galaxy may have acquired the Bitcoin from the mysterious wallets, though the firm has not publicly addressed the provenance of the assets. Instead, Galaxy emphasized that the sale was conducted on behalf of a legacy holder from Bitcoin’s earliest days—describing the transaction as a key part of that individual’s estate planning.

This historic movement of dormant coins comes amid a broader trend of decade-old BTC resurfacing. With early whales returning to the scene, the spotlight is now on the untold backstories behind these monumental transactions—and the unanswered questions they leave behind.

telegram

Author

Alexander Stefanov

Reporter at Coindoo

Alex is an experienced financial journalist and cryptocurrency enthusiast. With over 8 years of experience covering the crypto, blockchain, and fintech industries, he is well-versed in the complex and ever-evolving world of digital assets. His insightful and thought-provoking articles provide readers with a clear picture of the latest developments and trends in the market. His approach allows him to break down complex ideas into accessible and in-depth content. Follow his publications to stay up to date with the most important trends and topics.

Source: https://coindoo.com/record-breaking-bitcoin-sale-may-be-tied-to-2011-wallet-scandal/