Dormant Ethereum address holding 12,746 ETH wakes up after 10.2 years

An Ethereum address holding 12,746 ETH has moved for the first time in roughly 10.2 years, according to blockchain tracker Whale Alert. What happened on-chain Whale Alert flagged the activation of the address, which held 12,746 ETH before stirring. The wallet had sat untouched for about 10.2 years. Where those coins went, or what the owner intends, has not been publicly reported. The address has activated, and that is the confirmed part of the story. Analytics firms watching these wallets have described a familiar routine. Long-dormant holders often start with a small test transfer, then follow up with larger movements once they confirm everything works. A pattern of early wallets returning This address is not the first ancient Ethereum wallet to resurface. Over 2025 and 2026, several others have reappeared, with notable examples moving 10,000 ETH, 2,000 ETH and 40,000 ETH. Many of these wallets are linked to early Ethereum holders, particularly participants in the project’s initial coin offering, or ICO. An ICO is a token sale where a project raises money by selling its coins directly to the public before or around launch. The economics of those early purchases are striking. Origi...