Mysterious Bitcoin wallets from 2009 stir activity
These wallets, dating back to January and February 2009, could belong to early adopters or even Bitcoin’s mysterious creator, Satoshi Nakamoto.
Early Bitcoin miners from 2009 have recently begun moving their long-dormant holdings, sparking intrigue within the cryptocurrency community. On 20 September, five miner wallets, each receiving 50 BTC as block rewards shortly after the launch of the Bitcoin blockchain, saw their funds being transferred. These wallets, dating back to January and February 2009, are believed to belong to individuals present during Bitcoin’s inception, just weeks after its pseudonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, introduced the protocol.
When mining, the 250 BTC in these wallets had little value. However, today, the total value has skyrocketed to £13 million. Bitcoin first hit $1 in 2011 on the now-defunct Mt. Gox exchange, a pivotal moment in its rise. The sudden movement of these ancient wallets has prompted speculation, with some suggesting the owners rediscovered their old hard drives, while others ponder whether they belong to Satoshi Nakamoto or early adopters like Hal Finney.
The first recorded Bitcoin transaction took place on 12 January 2009, when Nakamoto sent 10 BTC to Finney, who played a key role in Bitcoin’s early development. Now, with these recent wallet movements, many are left wondering about the identity of those behind them, adding another layer of mystery to Bitcoin’s origin story.
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