Bitcoin's 2025 Altseason Begins as Institutional Interest Surges 50%

Bitcoin's latest price was $, in the last 24 hours. Galaxy Digital brokered the sale of 80,000 Bitcoins for a Satoshi-era investor, marking one of the largest and earliest exits from the digital asset market. This transaction, part of the investor's estate planning strategy, signifies a major shift in the Bitcoin landscape as institutional capital increasingly flows into the market. The rising demand for U.S. spot BTC ETFs by institutional investors has further boosted cash inflows into Bitcoin, indicating a growing institutional interest in the cryptocurrency.

The exit of early Bitcoin investors, such as the Satoshi-era investor, suggests a potential onset of the 2025 altseason. This is evident through the increasing demand for Ethereum and other altcoins, as seen in the spot ETF cash flows. The broader altcoin market is also experiencing heightened interest, which could lead to significant growth in the coming months.

The cohort of publicly traded companies holding at least 1,000 Bitcoins has surged from 24 at the end of the first quarter to 35 as of July 25, representing a nearly 50% increase. This growth pushes the group’s combined stash to almost 900,000 BTC, edging it toward the symbolic 1 million BTC mark. The number of heavyweight corporate holders began to accelerate late last year and has continued to rise, indicating a growing trend of corporate adoption of Bitcoin.

In addition to the increase in companies holding Bitcoin, the pattern of buying has also shown a significant change. In the first quarter, companies acquired just under 100,000 Bitcoins, with one firm dominating that flow. By the second quarter, purchasing had climbed to more than 154,000 BTC, representing a 35% increase from the previous quarter. More importantly, the acquisitions were shared across a far broader set of treasuries, signaling that Bitcoin is no longer the preserve of a handful of balance-sheet pioneers.

Aside from the Bitcoin acquisition by heavyweights, broad corporate adoption also increased this year. In the first six months of 2025, public companies absorbed 245,510 BTC, more than double the 118,424 BTC created for spot exchange-traded funds over the same stretch. This haul is a 375% leap from the 51,653 BTC corporates picked up in the comparable 2024 period, while exchange-traded fund (ETF) demand plunged 56% year-over-year after last year’s launch-driven burst. Strategy still led the pack with 135,600 BTC, representing nearly 55% of the total, but its share has declined from 72%, indicating that buying has broadened beyond a single bellwether. Boards now purchase roughly 2.1 BTC for every ETF coin minted, framing Bitcoin less as a speculative punt and more as working capital or a reserve asset.

Galaxy Digital’s actions alone might not explain the entire intensity of the selloff. Market analysts believe that a general decrease in trading volume of the wider digital asset market and regulatory uncertainty are other catalysts. Today, the broader market witnessed significant turbulence, with Bitcoin and several altcoins experiencing downturns, pressured by significant fund transfers and rising caution ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve meeting on July 30. Traders are waiting for the forthcoming policy meeting. Although market analysts anticipate the Fed to hold rates steady, traders will concentrate on comments from officials to assess the future market direction. Today, Market analyst Merlijn the trader described Bitcoin’s recent price fall as a “textbook correction,” majorly triggered by selling pressure coming from investors. He termed the dip as an opportunity and revealed that the asset has formed a clear, a bullish chart showing a potential reversal from a downturn to an upturn. This means the asset is preparing to reverse its current downward movement to an uptrend. The analyst marked $140,000 as the next Bitcoin’s target.