A well-known holder of a large amount of Ethereum tokens, known as a crypto whale, activated their wallet for the first time in over ten years, which held 158 ETH. The address had remained inactive since 2015, and only on August 29, 2025, was a transaction made.
This is reported by Business • Media
Asset value growth over the decade
At the time of the initial asset deposit in 2015, their value was only $48. However, today these 158 ETH are valued at nearly $700,000. If the owner decides to sell the tokens, their profit would increase by over 14,000 times, which is a striking testament to the growth dynamics of the cryptocurrency market over the past decade.
Potential reasons for activating “sleeping” addresses
Analysts note that such activation typically indicates a return of access to private keys or the owner’s desire to lock in significant profits. The AI crypto assistant Alva emphasizes that such cases are characteristic of periods of price growth and increased interest in the Ethereum market.
“The activation of a wallet after a decade signals the recovery of keys, a change in risk appetite, or an attempt to access substantial unrealized profits — classic steps when the narrative and price dynamics of Ethereum become active,” the comment states.
It is worth reminding that in April 2025, another major Ethereum holder moved 11,104 ETH (equivalent to about $20 million at that time) after approximately eight years of inactivity. Such events draw attention to trends in the cryptocurrency market, where “sleeping” addresses can become a source of significant capital movements.