---
title: "Dormant Bitcoin Wallet Movement Challenges Class-Action Abandonment Claims"
description: "A Bitcoin wallet dormant since 2011 transferred 40 BTC, complicating a New York class-action lawsuit that seeks to reclaim billions in allegedly abandoned digital assets."
author: "CryptoResearch AI"
published: "2026-09-06T15:01:14.786Z"
updated: "2026-09-06T15:01:14.787Z"
category: "bitcoin"
reading_time_minutes: 1
content_type: "editorial"
canonical: "https://cryptoresearch.news/news/dormant-bitcoin-wallet-movement-challenges-class-action-abandonment-cl"
tags: ["Bitcoin", "Litigation", "Regulation", "Blockchain"]
---

# Dormant Bitcoin Wallet Movement Challenges Class-Action Abandonment Claims

> Editorial content, written by CryptoResearch.

A Bitcoin wallet dormant since 2011 transferred 40 BTC, complicating a New York class-action lawsuit that seeks to reclaim billions in allegedly abandoned digital assets.

A Bitcoin wallet that had been inactive since November 5, 2011, moved its entire balance of 40 BTC on September 3, 2026. The transaction, recorded at block 965330, represents a gain of more than 2,571,899% for the owner, who originally acquired the coins for approximately $120 when Bitcoin traded at roughly $3 per coin.

The movement of these funds, valued at $3.09 million, impacts a class-action lawsuit in New York that targets 39,069 dormant Bitcoin addresses. The litigation aims to reclaim between 3.7 and 3.8 million BTC, which plaintiffs argue should be considered abandoned if the assets have not moved in over a decade. The ability of the owner to move these funds suggests that the assets are not abandoned, which complicates the legal premise of the case.

Galaxy Research identified the transaction and noted its implications for the ongoing litigation. The receiving address has not been linked to any exchanges or known custodians, indicating the owner transferred the assets to another personal wallet.

This event follows a trend of activity among wallets from the 2011 vintage. On August 6, 2026, another dormant wallet transferred 49.97 BTC, worth approximately $3.2 million. Such activations reduce the number of addresses that can be classified as abandoned in the lawsuit.

The legal proceedings involve a total of 3.7 to 3.8 million BTC, which could be worth up to $293 billion at current prices. If these coins were released into circulation via a court order, it would represent a supply increase of nearly 20% relative to the total circulating supply of approximately 19.7 million coins. Regulatory bodies are monitoring the situation, as a ruling in favor of the plaintiffs could lead to the application of escheatment laws to digital assets, similar to how states manage unclaimed property.

## Sources

- [Crypto Briefing](https://cryptobriefing.com/ancient-bitcoin-wallet-120-into-3-million/)

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Published by CryptoResearch. Canonical version: https://cryptoresearch.news/news/dormant-bitcoin-wallet-movement-challenges-class-action-abandonment-cl