Ethereum ICO Whale Resurfaces: Transfers $6.7 Million Worth of ETH
A participant in Ethereum's Initial Coin Offering (ICO) has reappeared after over 8.7 years of dormancy, causing speculation in the digital currency community.
The individual initiated their return by transferring 2,000 ETH, valued at approximately $6.7 million based on the current market price of $3,350 per ETH, according to data from Lookonchain.
An #Ethereum ICO participant woke up after 8.7 years of dormancy and transferred 2,000 $ETH($6.7M) out.
He received 2,000 $ETH($6.7M) at #Ethereum Genesis, the ETH ICO price is ~$0.31.https://t.co/Hz1oZPpWKm pic.twitter.com/H1fVKcXJX6
— Lookonchain (@lookonchain) March 24, 2024
The whale originally acquired the 2000 ETH during the ICO Genesis phase at a price of $0.31 per ETH, resulting in an initial investment of $620. This translates to a staggering growth of 1,080,545.16% over the years.
While it’s not uncommon for Ethereum ICO whales to reemerge after extended periods of dormancy, the timing and subsequent actions are noteworthy. The whale chose to transfer precisely 1,999 ETH to an undisclosed wallet rather than a recognizable exchange wallet.
Speculation abounds regarding the purpose of this transfer, with possibilities including liquidation through an over-the-counter (OTC) desk, staking, or secure storage in another wallet. Notably, the whale engaged in further activity by utilizing the wallet for a transaction involving the ShibaInu.eth name service shortly after the Genesis coin transfer.
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According to data from Etherscan, the whale’s wallet contains a total holding value of $195.07 across 45 tokens in a multichain address.
The timing of the whale’s emergence coincides with significant developments within the Ethereum ecosystem. The transition from a Proof-of-Work (PoW) to a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus model, known as The Merge, addresses environmental concerns and scalability needs. Additionally, recent upgrades such as the Dencun Upgrade and upcoming plans for the Electra Upgrade underscore Ethereum’s ongoing development efforts.
This transfer occurs as ETH recovers from a recent dip, rebounding from a 52-week low of $2,906.58 following a peak of $4,092.28.