Dormant Ethereum Whale Reactivates, Moves $145M to Gemini

A long-silent Ethereum wallet has suddenly reactivated after nearly nine years. The whale moved 50,000 ETH, worth around $145 million, to the Gemini exchange. This action immediately caught the market’s attention. Moreover, such large transfers usually signal possible selling plans. However, the wallet has not executed any confirmed sell orders yet. Still, the timing creates uncertainty across trading desks.

🐳 ETH WHALE WAKES UP AFTER 9 YEARS, MOVES $145M

A sleeping Ethereum whale for 9 years just moved 50,000 $ETH worth $145M to the Gemini.

The wallet originally withdrew 135,000 $ETH from Bitfinex in 2017 when ETH was near $90 — a 32x gain.

The address still holds 85,000 $ETH… pic.twitter.com/Q96IxaH2K3

— Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) January 26, 2026

The wallet originally acquired 135,000 ETH from Bitfinex in 2017. At that time, ETH traded near $90. Therefore, the whale achieved roughly a 32x return on the transferred portion alone. This highlights how early Ethereum investors continue to dominate supply. It also shows how long-term conviction can generate extreme wealth in crypto cycles.

Whale Still Holds Huge ETH Position

Despite the large transfer, the wallet still holds 85,000 ETH. This stash currently values at over $240 million. As a result, the whale remains one of the largest individual ETH holders. The remaining balance suggests the whale may not plan a full exit. Instead, it may simply rebalance or prepare liquidity.

Market Watches for Selling Pressure

Meanwhile, traders now monitor Gemini inflows closely. Historically, whale deposits to exchanges often precede selling. However, recent on-chain data shows mixed behavior among ETH whales. Some continue to accumulate, while others distribute. Therefore, this single move does not guarantee a bearish trend. Yet, it adds short-term volatility risk.

Signals of a Maturing Market

Ultimately, such movements reflect Ethereum’s maturity. Early wallets now control billions in unrealized value. Their actions influence liquidity and sentiment. At the same time, markets have grown deep enough to absorb large transfers. This balance shows how Ethereum has evolved from a niche asset into a global financial instrument.