Genesis-era Ethereum wallet moves millions after a decade, scam attempts follow within minutes

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An address funded in Ethereum's first block sent its first outbound transaction, and unsolicited scam-linked activity showed up almost immediately

Tue 10 Nov 2026 · 02:05 EST · 2 min read

In Ethereum

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An Ethereum wallet that had sat untouched for more than ten years finally sent its first transaction late Monday. Within minutes, it attracted scam-linked activity it never asked for.

The address, 0x7dDd57165c87A2707f025DCFC2508c09834759Bc, dates back to the network’s very first block. After a small test transfer, it moved nearly 2,155 ETH, valued at approximately $4.57 million to $4.59 million, to a fresh address 38 minutes later.

A wallet older than most of crypto

This address is about as old as Ethereum addresses get. It received 1,400 ETH in the genesis block in July 2015, the first block ever produced on the chain.

That allocation came from the ICO era, when ether was valued at roughly $0.31.

The wallet’s second deposit landed on March 29, 2016. It received 755 ETH withdrawn from Bitfinex, at a time when ETH traded at about $11.74.

The address recorded zero outgoing transactions for over a decade. That changed on November 9, 2026. The owner first sent a small test transaction, then followed up with the full balance roughly 38 minutes later.

On-chain tracker Lookonchain documented the movement. Initial reports have not confirmed any deposit to an exchange.

The test transfer, and the uninvited guests

Scam-related activity appeared on or near the address within minutes of that first transfer, yet the main balance still reached its intended destination.

The timing illustrates how closely some actors monitor the blockchain. A wallet that stayed quiet for ten years drew attention almost the moment it stirred.

Why old wallets draw a crowd

In this case, the coins went to a new address, not an exchange, based on initial reports. That points more toward custody housekeeping than an imminent sale, though the owner’s intentions are not known.

Historical wallets have been returning to activity in 2026 as owners recover old keys.

What this means for ETH holders

Around 2,155 ETH is meaningful to one person, but small relative to daily trading in a major asset like ether.

The more durable lesson here is about security. This owner used a test transaction and still drew scam-linked attention within minutes, which shows how quickly opportunists respond to visible on-chain activity.

What to watch next is where the coins go from the new address. A later deposit to an exchange would revive selling questions, while continued stillness would suggest a holder who simply wanted fresher custody.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Vivian Nguyen. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.