ChainCatcher, citing a Bitcoin.com report, said dormant Bitcoin wallet activity increased markedly in 2026. Checkonchain data show that approximately 227,196 BTC acquired before 2019 were activated during 2026, valued at the time of the report at about $183.58 billion.
Breakdown by acquisition period
Of those coins, 186,123 (81.9 percent) were acquired between 2015 and 2018. A further 27,653 came from 2012–2014, and 13,419 dated from before 2012.
Transfers from older dormant addresses
Btcparser separately recorded 873 transfers from addresses dormant since 2010–2017 between January and October 2026. Those transfers totaled about 33,932 BTC, with activity densest in the third quarter.
Selected reactivations
Some 2010 miner addresses became active again during the year. On January 10, 40 addresses moved 2,000 BTC within a few minutes. On September 5, early miner rewards were transferred. Four addresses created in 2016 each moved 500 BTC, in March, May, July, and October respectively, a sequence the report describes as regular.
The figures describe on-chain activation of previously dormant coins. The report does not state holders’ motives or whether the bitcoin was sold.
ChainCatcher, November 11, 2026 (UTC+8), citing Bitcoin.com, Checkonchain, and Btcparser.
