Key Takeaways
How much Bitcoin have whales accumulated recently?
Whales added 45,000 BTC in the past week, marking the second-largest weekly accumulation of 2025.
What does price action suggest about the battle between bulls and bears?
The MACD shows bearish momentum with negative readings of -321.31, suggesting continued near-term pressure as distribution overwhelms accumulation.
A massive wealth transfer is unfolding in Bitcoin markets.
While long-term holders dump coins at the highest rate in nearly a year, whales are aggressively scooping up supply at six-figure prices—setting the stage for a classic bull market divergence between weak hands and institutional conviction.
Bitcoin LTH offloading
CryptoQuant data reveals that long-term holders have sold 815,000 BTC over the past 30 days, marking the most significant distribution since January 2024.
The selling spans all holder cohorts, from diamond hands holding 7+ years to more recent positions of 6-18 months.
Source: CryptoQuant
This massive profit-taking came as Bitcoin pushed above $100,000, triggering sell orders that accumulated during years of consolidation and recovery from the 2022 bear market.
The chart shows stacked areas in purple, orange, pink, and blue, representing different holder cohorts that contribute to the distribution wave.
As demand contracts, as indicated by the gray trendline, this selling pressure weighs heavily on short-term price action.
Whales step in
Post-election data from CryptoRank paints a contrasting picture of smart money positioning.
Whale wallets holding 1,000+ BTC accumulated 45,000 coins in the past week alone—the second-largest buying spree of 2025, surpassed only by March’s panic-buying during the tariff tantrum selloff.
Source: CryptoRank
Their total holdings surged from 1.52 million BTC in early 2025 to 1.76 million currently, steadily absorbing the retail panic selling that drove retail holdings down from 16.7 million to 16.68 million.
The divergence is stark: while retail investors capitulate near local highs, institutional players quietly build positions.
This pattern mirrors March’s behavior, when whales initiated 2025’s largest accumulation wave during sharp price declines.
Smart money consistently buys fear while retail sells into strength—a behavioral dynamic that defines every Bitcoin cycle.
Bitcoin price tests critical support
Bitcoin currently trades at $100,282, testing the psychological $100,000 floor. The daily chart shows price retreating from the $125,000 local high reached in October, with momentum indicators flashing warning signs.
Both MACD lines trend downward, indicating sellers maintain control despite whale accumulation.
Source: TradingView
The $100,000 level represents the crucial battleground. A sustained break below would open the path to $97,500, where previous consolidation occurred.
However, if whales continue absorbing supply at current prices, their conviction could establish a launching pad for the next rally phase.
With retail capitulating and institutional players accumulating, Bitcoin’s market structure increasingly favors long-term bulls willing to stomach short-term volatility.
Next: Cardano builds pressure at $0.56 – Is the breakout closer than ADA traders think?
