According to the latest data, 1.71 million BTC mined between 2009 and 2012 are still dormant, worth about $108.2 billion. These unused bitcoins account for about 8.73% of the total supply of Bitcoin, showing that early Bitcoin miners did not transfer these tokens immediately after mining.
Among them, the Bitcoin born in 2009 is particularly noteworthy. According to online data, there are still 1,074,352 to 1,074,402 BTC from the block rewards in 2009. These bitcoins are stored in 21,488 wallet addresses, accounting for about 5.4% of the total supply of Bitcoin. Although a large part of them are believed to be held by Bitcoin's founder Satoshi Nakamoto, not all bitcoins from that year belong to him. Interestingly, only a very small number of 2009 bitcoins have been used since 2015, showing that holders are quite cautious about their holding strategy.
In contrast, the situation of Bitcoin in 2010 is similar. According to statistics, there are still 578,483 to 578,740 BTC from the block rewards in 2010, worth about $36.5 billion. These bitcoins are distributed in 11,598 dormant wallets, accounting for 2.92% of the total supply, and the holders of these bitcoins have not transferred or used them so far.
As the world's most well-known cryptocurrency, Bitcoin has experienced tremendous fluctuations and development since its birth in 2009. With its total market value reaching about $1.24 trillion, many early bitcoins are still in a "dormant" state, that is, they have never been transferred or used. The existence of these bitcoins has aroused widespread concern about their value, holders, and future fate.
The uniqueness of the Bitcoin network is that it is based on the unspent transaction output (UTXO) model. This means that all transactions are recorded through the transfer and generation of UTXO. When a user makes a transaction, the system matches the input UTXO with the newly generated output UTXO, ensuring that the transfer record of each Bitcoin is transparent and public. This structure not only supports the decentralized nature of Bitcoin, but also allows blockchain explorers to track the flow of each Bitcoin, especially those block rewards that have never been used since Bitcoin was created.
Bitcoin's early miners and future trends
Since the creation of Bitcoin, most of the block rewards from 2009 to 2012 have not been touched, indicating that early Bitcoin miners may have very positive confidence in its long-term value. In contrast, in recent years, more newly generated Bitcoin wallets have been more active, especially Bitcoin block rewards after 2013 have been frequently transferred. This phenomenon suggests that the maturity of the Bitcoin market has led more people to choose to use their Bitcoin at the right time, while early miners continue to remain in their "sleeping" state, waiting for the best market opportunity.
Data from blockchain explorers show that despite the increasing activity of the Bitcoin market, Bitcoin generated between 2009 and 2012 rarely resurface, making these Bitcoins known as "sleeping wealth." Once these Bitcoins are transferred, they usually attract great attention from the market, because this may represent that some long-term holders are beginning to release their wealth, which has a direct impact on market supply and demand.
Potential impact: the future fate of these "sleeping" Bitcoins
The potential impact of these unused Bitcoins on the market is huge. On the one hand, these Bitcoins account for about 8.73% of the total Bitcoin supply. If they are transferred or sold on a large scale, it may cause a sudden increase in market supply, thereby affecting the volatility of Bitcoin prices. On the other hand, whether the holders of these Bitcoins will continue to hold them for a long time will also have an important impact on market sentiment and price expectations. It is worth noting that over time, Bitcoins from 2009 to 2012 may never be used. This may be because some holders have lost their private keys or decided to store them permanently. This also further increases the scarcity of Bitcoin and provides some support for its future price trend!
"Sleeping wealth" intertwined with Bitcoin's history and future
1.71 million BTC are still dormant, symbolizing the glory of Bitcoin in its early days and its global influence today. These Bitcoins are not only part of the history of cryptocurrency, but also provide potential variables for future market volatility. As the Bitcoin market matures, early Bitcoin holders will continue to play an important role, and their decisions may affect the supply and demand relationship and price fluctuations of Bitcoin in the future.
Regardless of whether these "sleeping bitcoins" will be transferred in the future, the stories behind them and the historical significance they represent will undoubtedly continue to influence the future of the global cryptocurrency market.
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