Bitcoin: 4.65 million dormant BTC will wake up in 2025 and are back in the market
What are the OGs playing? The Bitcoin market experienced 2025 marked by remarkable activity among long-term holders, dubbed “OGs”which they massively put back into circulation BTC that have remained inactive for months or even years. This trend raises questions about the motivations for these moves and the future of the market. Have they lost the old faith in Bitcoin? Beginning of an answer with a certain James Check.
-
- Longtime Bitcoin holders reactivated approximately 4.65 million BTC in 2025, raising questions about their motives.
- This reactivation reached a record $500 billion, raising concerns about former investors’ confidence in Bitcoin’s future.
A massive awakening of dormant BTC that raises questions
This is according to the data shared by the analyst James Checkaka Mat, approx. 4.65 million BTC were therefore reactivated in 2025 after a period of inactivity more or less long. Here are the details of his observations regarding these so-called dormant bitcoins:
- 1.91 million BTC detained for more than two years;
- 844,000 BTC in custody from one to two years;
- 1.9 million BTC in custody from six to twelve months.
In terms of value, Checkmate estimates that this reactivated offering has reached 500 billion dollars in 2025 it slightly exceeds 470 billion dollars the year 2024. Although he saw the year 2024 almost 7 million BTC reactivated, 2025 remains a record year in terms of value.
This reality triggered worry in a community that questions their motivations “OGs” market, like Tony Cross calling James Check on X:
“OGs who dump they overwhelmingly want to tell the market that Bitcoin is no different. Ultimately, it’s just a simple initial public offering (IPO). In fact, historical investors do not believe in the future of Bitcoin. And yet you have to believe it. »
Tony Cross – Source: Account
And now it’s here response mat in the pictures:
“Troy, the term OG is misused here. Yes, we’ve seen half a million coins in circulation that are 5 years old or older, but the vast majority of coins sold this year are from the beginning of this cycle and the previous cycle. Most people don’t hold their bitcoins long (HODL), they use them for swing trading.”
James Check, aka Checkmate, Responds to Concerned Internet Users – Source: Account
So the idea that old gangsters (OG) keep theirs bitcoins is relative poorlyaccording to James Check. In fact, they do not hesitate to take advantage of large movements in the market sell a little inward high AND redeem more downin order to increase their bags from BTC.
Why these massive bitcoin sales?
And at present, several factors can explain this wave of sales. Price level around $100,000 represents an important psychological threshold that encourages some holders to adopt profits. In addition, some investors want to diversify their portfolios towards gold or gold-related stocks.artificial intelligence.
We can also state the fear of threats emerging technologies such as quantum computing that could therefore compel some sell. Finally, the theory four-year cycles of Bitcoin, which predicts market peaks approximately 18 months after each one halvingcould also influence these decisions.
According to Galaxy Research, which confirms Checkmate’s observations, approx 470,000 BTC held for more than five years actually changed hands in 2025, i.e. value 50 billion dollars. This represents the second largest amount on record after 2024.
In the last two years, almost half of all bitcoins thus they were detained for more than five years relocatedrepresentative 78% from the total value of these transactions. Overall more than 104 billion dollars in long-term inactive BTC were redistributed.
While Bitcoin continues to hover around $100,000, activity by long-term holders shows that the market remains bullish. There are many reasons for these moves, from profit taking to investment diversification. As 2025 draws to a close, the question remains: do these massive sales mark the end of the cycle? or the beginning of a new era for Bitcoin?