Ethereum

Ethereum 2.0

DeFi

Read

<p>An Ethereum wallet dormant since 2015 has just transferred $23 million worth of ETH. A harbinger of things to come? Between restructuring and speculation, Ethereum whales are on the move… But what are they really planning for the future of crypto?</p>
<div class="in-brief">
 <div class="in-brief--container"><span></span><span></span>
  <h2 class="in-brief--title" id="in-brief">In brief</h2>
  <ul>
   <li>​​A whale from the 2015 ICO transferred 10,000 ETH ($23 million) after 11 years of inactivity.</li>
   <li>Analysts favor a custody restructuring rather than a massive ETH sale.</li>
   <li>No major impact on the crypto market, but a sign of maturity for Ethereum.</li>
  </ul>
 </div>
</div>
<h2 id="h-an-ethereum-ico-whale-wakes-up-after-11-years-3-100-turned-into-23-million">An Ethereum ICO whale wakes up after 11 years: $3,100 turned into $23 million</h2>
<p>On April 28, 2026, an Ethereum whale inactive since 2015 finally stirred. Indeed, 10,000 ETH purchased at $0.31 during the ICO are now worth $23.125 million, a return of 7,500x. The transaction, validated on block 24981821, transferred almost all of the funds to a new address (`0x5C96F…`), triggering speculation.</p>
<div class="my-4">
 <div class="ads "></div>
</div>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img width="1024" height="415" src="https://www.cointribune.com/app/uploads/2026/04/IMG_4747-2-1024x415.jpeg" alt="On April 28, 2026, an Ethereum whale inactive since 2015 finally stirred. Indeed, 10,000 ETH purchased at $0.31 during the ICO are now worth $23.125 million, a return of 7,500x. The transaction, validated on block 24981821, transferred almost all of the funds to a new address (`0x5C96F...`), triggering speculation.">
 <figcaption><em>Ethereum Whale transaction.</em>
 </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Contrary to fears of a massive dump, analysts are leaning towards a custodian restructuring or a recovery of private keys. In September 2025, another whale had already moved $645 million to <a href="https://www.cointribune.com/en/bitmine-switches-to-ethereum-staking-with-a-219-million-deposit/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">a staking service</a>, without impacting the crypto market. Here, the same scenario plays out: no sale, but active asset management. With a daily ETH trading volume of $15 billion, a $23 million transaction goes unnoticed. Proof that early adopters prioritize security over speculation.</p>
<div class="affiliate-button"><a href="https://bitpanda.pxf.io/c/2801338/1632019/15871" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Your 1st cryptos with Bitpanda</a><a href="https://www.cointribune.com/en/sponsored-content/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">This link uses an affiliate program.</a>
</div>
<h2 id="h-crypto-what-are-ethereum-whales-planning-for-2026">Crypto: What are Ethereum whales planning for 2026?</h2>
<p>Ethereum whales (holders of 10,000+ ETH) are no longer idle. After years of inactivity, their recent moves reveal a clear strategy: staking, secure custody, or diversification. In 2026, with the transition to Ethereum 2.0 and the rise of Layer 2 solutions, these established players are optimizing their positions. Some, <a href="https://decrypt.co/365926/ethereum-ico-whale-who-turned-3100-into-23m-wakes-up-after-a-decade" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">like the whale from the 2015 ICO, are consolidating their holdings in unknown addresses</a>, likely cold wallets or DeFi protocols.</p>
<p>Others, like the one from September 2025, are focusing on staking to generate passive returns (3-6% APY). This trend avoids exchanges to limit the impact on the price. The result? Less selling pressure, but reduced liquidity in the crypto market. With 60% of circulating ETH held by long-term addresses, their next move could redefine the balance between HODLing and active trading.</p>
<p>Ethereum whales aren’t selling; they’re reorganizing. Between staking and securitization, their resurgence signals an era of maturity for ETH. But what if their next step is… a massive sell-off? What do you think?</p>

A dormant Ethereum whale awakens and shakes the markets

Table of Contents

Cointribune EN

Other articles published on Apr 29, 2026

Join our free newsletter for daily crypto updates!