An early Ethereum investor who spent around $120 during the 2015 ETH presale has reemerged after more than a decade of dormancy, moving 400 ETH – worth around $900,000 at current prices – in a transaction flagged by intelligence platform Arkham on May 14, 2026.
Ethereum trading for life
According to Arkham post at
Arkham’s analysis shows a return on the original investment of over 7,500 times, making it one of the more striking examples of what patient participation in an early-stage emerging sector can bring.
The wallet address – 0xE0F372347c96B55f7D4306034bEb83266FD90966 – can be publicly verified on the Arkham blockchain analytics platform, where transaction history confirms ETH holdings dating back to the pre-sale period and recent outbound activity consistent with the described transfers.
This guy turned $120 into $900,000. dollars in one transaction.
He bought ETH for $120 in the Ethereum presale in 2015 and just transferred it today. He sent 50 ETH to the up-to-date wallet and deposited 350 ETH on Bitstamp.
It took 10 years, but its growth exceeded 7500x. pic.twitter.com/3tusW682lB
— Arkham (@arkham) May 14, 2026
Macro background behind the movement
The moment of the transfer comes at a time of measurable optimism, especially for Ethereum. According to the latest report by QCP Capital market updateBitcoin is consolidating around $80,000 near its 200-day plain moving average – absorbing ETF outflows and a slightly hotter-than-expected April CPI print without missing the critical $80,000 level, suggesting the bearish momentum is fading. As Bitcoin and Ethereum remain closely correlated risk assets, the stabilization in BTC provided a floor for ETH as well.
The QCP assessment describes the current environment as range-constrained, with compressed volatility and positioning waiting for the next macro impulse. Key catalysts identified by the company include softer PPI data, constructive developments from the ongoing US-China diplomatic engagement, and progress on the CLARITY Act – any of which could pull Ethereum out of its current consolidation range.
CPI details are of particular importance to ETH holders. While the headline seemed hawkish, QCP noted that shelter costs – particularly equivalent landlord rent – contributed most to the enhance and likely reflect delayed adjustments to the BLS methodology rather than renewed demand-side inflationary pressures. A closer look at underlying inflation could justify possible interest rate cuts, a macro environment that has historically provided a favorable tailwind for risky assets, including Ethereum.
This development represents a significant moment for long-term Ethereum holders, who are seeing the asset consolidate well below its August 2025 all-time high of $4,946. The pre-sale investor, who turned $120 into $900,000, chose this window to finally make a move – a decision that, regardless of the macro uncertainty ahead, represents one of the most patient and profitable exits the Ethereum ecosystem has ever seen on-chain.
ETH's price records a compact uptick since March 2026 as seen on the daily chart. Source: ETHUSD on Tradingview
At the time of writing, Ethereum is trading around $2,336, holding above key support as the market awaits the next catalyst that will determine whether the current consolidation will end higher or require a further reset before another upside leg.
Cover image from Grok, ETHUSD chart from Tradingview
