Ancient Dark Web Market Moves $77.5 Million in Bitcoin
A massive $77.5 million Bitcoin transaction has just been discovered from a dark web drug marketplace that has been dormant for nearly a decade. According to Arkham Intelligence, the darknet marketplace, Nucleus Marketplace, moved the funds to three different wallets, while still holding around $365 million in Bitcoin.
Movements from “ancient Bitcoin whales” are a common occurrence, but an active darknet-related wallet is rare. Nucleus’s holdings have skyrocketed since it went dormant, but converting the Bitcoin into fiat could prove difficult.
The Darknet Bitcoin Whale Is Awakening
Like other areas of finance, cryptocurrencies never sleep. Today, analytics firm Arkham Intelligence detected a rapid movement from a long-dormant source.
Nucleus Marketplace, a darknet marketplace that has been dormant since 2016, has woken up and moved over $77.5 million in Bitcoin.
Nucleus Marketplace is a darknet drug marketplace. It is believed that the founder was arrested or committed fraud when the marketplace shut down in 2016. Their Bitcoins have not been moved to this day,” Arkham said.
The marketplace has not moved all of its Bitcoins. Nucleus still holds about $365 million worth of Bitcoin. Bitcoin has risen sharply since Nucleus’ heyday, when the price of BTC never topped $1,000 in 2016.
The person in control of this wallet is making transactions cautiously, dividing the assets into three different wallets.
Moving Bitcoin to Three Wallets
Bitcoins from the darknet have been moved to three different wallets, according to data from Arkham Intelligence. While dark web-related transfers always attract attention, it is not uncommon for ancient whales to make transactions. These wallets could belong to early Bitcoin miners, or stolen assets that have long remained unsold.
While darknet-related transactions are less common, some platforms continue to operate despite legal crackdowns.
It is unclear who controls Nucleus’ Bitcoin wallets – it could be the original operator, an associate, or a hacker. However, regardless of who owns them, converting them into fiat currency without being detected would be difficult. These wallets are constantly monitored, and any unusual activity could trigger community and regulatory action.
