Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Adjusted On-Chain Data Shows Bitcoin Whales Distributing, Not Buying

Exchange consolidations have inflated whale counts, masking genuine distribution linked to ETF outflows.

Overview

  • CryptoQuant’s Julio Moreno said widely cited whale accumulation charts are distorted by exchanges pooling funds into fewer large addresses.
  • When exchange-controlled wallets are excluded, balances across large cohorts, including 100–1,000 BTC addresses, continue to decline.
  • Ongoing outflows from spot Bitcoin ETFs align with the drop in large and mid-sized wallet holdings, reinforcing the distribution trend.
  • Signals from long‑term holders are split, with one set of data showing 30‑day net accumulation and other metrics indicating renewed selling.
  • Volatility has tightened sharply, with Bollinger Bands under $3,500 as Bitcoin trades a little above $90,000, and analysts urge using filtered on-chain data to avoid false signals.