The Bitcoin Whale Who Turned $120 Into $180 Million By HODLing Since 2010

The whale's Bitcoin came from mining rewards in 2010, according to a previous report. At the time, miners received 50 BTC rewards for solving blocks

A Bitcoin whale recently moved 2,000 BTC, valued at $180 million, to Coinbase. The whale had been holding onto the coins since 2010, when they were mined and sold for $0.06 each.

Now, the coins are worth around $179 million—a staggering 1.5 million percent increase from the initial investment.

The story offers valuable lessons for investors, particularly in the volatile world of crypto.

The Story Behind the Whale

The whale’s Bitcoin came from mining rewards in 2010, according to a previous report. At the time, miners received 50 BTC rewards for solving blocks, and this whale collected these rewards 40 times, eventually accumulating the 2,000 BTC.

Meanwhile, this wallet had been inactive for over a decade, and it seems to reawakening now, likely due to the recent Bitcoin price surge as it records new highs at $93,000.

The legendary whale’s patience paid off thanks to his long-term holding strategy known as “HODL” or HODLing”. This is simply investors holding onto a cryptocurrency for a long period of time and ignoring the market volatility. In short, they simply buy the crypto cheap and forget about it.

This is a simple strategy that has paid off massively, especially for investors who have the courage to wait that long and resist the urge to sell during short market dips.

However, when a whale moves large inflows to exchanges, it can create selling pressure and affect market prices. CryptoQuant reported that Bitcoin reserves on exchanges are at a six-year low, which may limit any significant drop in prices.

What Is HODLing?

“HODL,” a term derived from a misspelled word for “hold,” has become a cornerstone philosophy for cryptocurrency investors. It advocates holding onto assets for the long term, ignoring short-term market fluctuations. This strategy relies on the belief that Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies will appreciate significantly over time due to their limited supply and increasing demand.

The whale’s story is not unique. Other investors have benefited from a similar approach:

For instance, another Bitcoin whale recently withdrew $132 million from Binance during the election period when Bitcoin was at $75,000.

Similarly, an Ethereum (ETH) whale recently turned $87,000 into over $40 million after holding 16,636 ETH bought in 2016 at just $5.23 per coin. The investor sold some of the holding for a massive pre=ofit while still retaining millions in ETH.

Microstrategy, a business intelligence firm led by Michael Saylor is an example of a whale company that has been holding Bitcoin since 2020. The company has also been actively topping up its holding. Recently, the company bought another 27,200 BTC for $2.03 billion, bringing its total holding to 279,420 BTC, valued at around $23 billion.

Lessons to Learn

1. Patience Pays Off

The most significant takeaway from this whale’s journey is the power of patience. Long-term holding has historically outperformed short-term trading for many cryptocurrency investors. While timing the market can be tempting, staying invested often yields better results.

2. Ignore Volatility

Cryptocurrencies are notoriously volatile. Prices can surge or crash within hours. The whale’s success underscores the importance of ignoring short-term noise and focusing on long-term trends.

3. Invest What You Can Afford to Lose

The whale’s initial investment was just $120—a modest amount by most standards. This highlights the importance of only investing what you can afford to lose, especially in high-risk markets like crypto.

Final Thoughts

The Bitcoin whale’s journey from $120 to $179 million is a testament to the power of long-term thinking and conviction. In a market that thrives on speculation and hype, adopting a disciplined approach like HODLing can set investors apart.

Whether you’re a seasoned investor or new to crypto, this story serves as a powerful reminder: sometimes, the simplest strategies—like buying and holding—can yield the most extraordinary results.