Yeah, but I don't know what it means.
I prefer the chart of transaction *count*: http://blockchain.info/charts/n-transactions
It strikes me as a more useful indicator of whether bitcoin interest/activity is rising or falling.


edit: I rather suspect that the transaction volume can be skewed simply by a large provider such as mtgox changing their cold-storage processes.
If they regularly shuffle some amounts in and out of cold storage - does that show up as some really large transactions? I'm guessing it might.

People moving their bitcoins into password protected wallets maybe?

Ohh good idea... but I think the jump started before the release of 0.5 (came out on nov 21). Also, you'd expect the highest peak to be right at the release of .5, and also you'd would expect to see a similar jump when .4 came out, because it had new encryption.

.. or  small transfers from some really large wallets but the 'change' amount is included in the chart??

The "change" is not included in that chart. Blockchain.info has one chart WITH the change, and then also they have the one I posted without.

Ok.. somehow I missed this note regarding change.  Still.. I wonder just how that works.