Galaxy Digital Offloads $9 Billion in Bitcoin With out Triggering a Crash

Key Takeaways:

• Galaxy Digital has executed one of many largest Bitcoin transactions in historical past, promoting over 80,000 BTC value $9 billion.
• The BTC got here from a Satoshi-era whale, an early investor holding cash untouched since 2011.
• Regardless of the large scale, Bitcoin’s value remained secure, signaling market maturity and robust institutional demand.

Galaxy Digital has confirmed the sale of over 80,000 Bitcoin, valued at over $9 billion, on behalf of a mysterious early Bitcoin holder. The transaction marks a uncommon awakening of dormant BTC from the Satoshi period and demonstrates how far the crypto market has developed by way of liquidity, stability, and institutional sophistication.

Let’s dive into the small print of this historic crypto second.

Learn Extra: Galaxy Raises $175M to Supercharge Early-Stage Crypto Startups Amid Market Headwinds

Galaxy Digital’s $9 Billion BTC Transaction Shocks however Doesn’t Shake the Market

On July 25, 2025, Galaxy Digital (NASDAQ/TSX: GLXY) introduced the completion of one of many largest notional Bitcoin transactions ever recorded. Appearing on behalf of a shopper, the agency facilitated the sale of over 80,000 BTC, linked to a pockets final lively in 2011.

In response to the corporate’s press launch, this transaction was a part of a broader property planning technique by the unidentified shopper, one of many earliest Bitcoin traders in existence.

What’s outstanding isn’t simply the scale of the deal however that it occurred with out sending shockwaves via the market.

Learn Extra: Satoshi-Period Whale Awakens: $1B in Bitcoin Moved to Galaxy Digital After 14 Years

The Market’s Calm Response

Usually, this kind of large sale, particularly, the pockets is acknowledged as a whale would trigger panic of a collapsed market and result in a sell-off within the small holders. Nevertheless, regardless that over 9 billion {dollars} had been flushed via BTC, the cryptocurrency fell by merely ~1% and traded sideways over the week closing at ~$117274.

That is extraordinary given the historic precedent:

• In previous years, giant Bitcoin strikes from dormant wallets have led to double-digit proportion drops.
• On this case, Galaxy executed the deal through over-the-counter (OTC) mechanisms, avoiding direct open-market dumping.

Market observers had been fast to notice that the liquidity and demand for Bitcoin seem sturdy sufficient to take up even decade-old whale actions.

Who Was the Whale?

Whereas Galaxy declined to call the investor, on-chain analysts have pieced collectively compelling proof:

Blockchain Forensics Uncover Clues

• The BTC in query got here from wallets created between April and Could 2011, with zero motion for 14 years.
• On-chain analyst JA_Maartun confirmed that the addresses linked to the transaction matched those who moved 80,000 BTC earlier this month.
• CryptoQuant’s CEO Ki Younger Ju prompt the funds might have originated from MyBitcoin.com, a now-defunct Bitcoin pockets service that shut down in 2011 following a hack.

It’s unknown whether or not the unique pockets creator was recovering misplaced cash, or whether or not an early miner was cashing out. However the timing, silence and construction of the deal counsel extra a really, very quiet, affected person, long-term operator making an supposed exit plan slightly than a market panic.

Whales Are Awakening however So Is Demand

This isn’t an remoted case. Knowledge from CryptoQuant reveals that whale exercise has surged in current months, with early holders more and more trying to notice beneficial properties, some after a decade of inactivity.

On the identical time, demand from new whales together with ETFs and institutional custodians, continues to develop.

Whale Demand Is at All-Time Highs

• Whale addresses holding 1,000+ BTC (value over $117 million) are rising steadily.
• Regardless of occasional profit-taking, mixture whale holdings have reached file highs, indicating renewed accumulation.
• Current analysis signifies that Bitcoin ETFs alone absorbed over 11,000 BTC prior to now 30 days, countering any promoting strain.

What’s Subsequent? Extra Authorities and Legacy Gross sales Incoming

The Galaxy transaction isn’t the one main BTC provide story.

The UK authorities reportedly plans to offload over 61,000 BTC, value roughly $7.18 billion, tied to prison seizures. But even this transfer isn’t anticipated to rattle the market considerably.

Why?

• Market watchers anticipate that the federal government will use structured gross sales, presumably via platforms like Galaxy or Coinbase Prime.
• Establishments are more and more prepared patrons for clear, seized Bitcoin at honest market worth.