Dormant Bitcoin Movement Surges as 62,800 BTC Moves in Q1 2025: What’s Happening?

Data from CryptoQuant reveals a significant increase in the movement of dormant Bitcoin, specifically coins held for over seven years. 

This surge in “old supply” could signal a change in sentiment among long-term holders, with increased activity occurring as early as January 2025. 

This shift comes at a time when Bitcoin price has been struggling to see its previous highs, despite surpassing the $90,000 barrier lately. During this press, the first-born crypto was trading at $92,507.

Surge in Movement of Long-Term Bitcoin

CryptoQuant’s data on Bitcoin older than seven years shows a sharp rise in movement during the first quarter of 2025. The data shows that long-term holders spent about 62,800 BTC in Q1, marking a 121% increase from Q1 2024, which only saw 28,000 BTC moved.

Specifically, the activity peaked in January, with 24.59K BTC spent, followed by 21.82K BTC in February and 16.46K BTC in March. This sustained uptick contrasts sharply with the previous year, where March 2024 saw a one-time spike of 19.30K BTC, but the following months showed much less activity.

This data, excluding the 141,000 BTC related to Mt.Gox transfers, provides a clearer view of market dynamics. According to CryptoQuant, the increased spending of old coins could reflect a shift in the mood among long-term holders, possibly influenced by changing macroeconomic conditions, expectations of price growth, or institutional liquidity needs. 

Notably, this change aligns with broader economic factors, including shifts in regulatory attitudes and leadership in the United States under President Donald Trump.

Activity Among Large Bitcoin Holders

Despite the surge in old Bitcoin movements, data from IntoTheBlock shows that large holders have remained active in accumulating Bitcoin during the first quarter of 2025. The percentage changes in large holder activity were particularly notable, with a massive 208.75% surge over the past week, and a 426.99% increase in the 30-day change. 

However, the 90-day percentage change showed a more negative trend, down by 837.16%, indicating that the increased activity in early 2025 was part of a broader cycle of accumulation and distribution patterns that began earlier in the previous quarter.

These movements indicate ongoing decisions made by significant market players, who may be preparing for the potential future market conditions.

Long-Term Holders Dominate Market Activity

Looking beyond just large holders, further data from IntoTheBlock also highlights a significant shift in Bitcoin ownership across different holder categories. Long-term holders—those who have held Bitcoin for over one year—saw a 1.45% increase in their share of total Bitcoin holdings in 2025.

Meanwhile, both cruisers (holders between 1 to 12 months) and traders (holding less than one month) experienced declines in activity, with cruisers down 2.11% and traders falling by 4.06%.

This shift in ownership patterns suggests that Bitcoin is increasingly being viewed as a long-term asset rather than a short-term trading opportunity.