Bitcoin News Today: Bitcoin Whales Offload $9.6B as Institutional Buyers Dominate Market Structure Shift

Bitcoin's market structure is shifting as large retail investors, known as "whales," offload significant portions of their holdings while institutional buyers gain prominence. Whale wallets—those holding over 10,000 BTC—have been steadily selling since 2017, with a major transaction in the past month involving 80,201 BTC, worth approximately $9.6 billion [1]. This trend is not viewed as a bearish signal but rather as an indicator of market maturation, with early adopters ceding control to institutional actors such as ETFs, corporate treasuries, and mining firms [2].

The movement of Bitcoin from old wallets—early adopters, cypherpunks, and libertarian tech enthusiasts—to institutional players like ETFs and corporate treasuries reflects a broader financial integration, according to Ryan McMillin of Merkle Tree Capital [1]. He draws a parallel with gold’s financialization in the early 2000s, when the introduction of exchange-traded products helped the metal appreciate from around $350 an ounce to nearly $2,000 an ounce [1]. A similar trajectory is expected for Bitcoin, as institutional investors, including pension funds, gain exposure and establish more stable asset allocations.

The liquidity landscape is also evolving, with 219 institutional entities now holding 3.6 million BTC, valued at over $419 billion [1]. These include corporate treasuries, ETFs, and decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms. As they take on more dominant roles, Bitcoin’s volatility is expected to decline, making it a more attractive asset for institutional investors such as pension funds and insurance companies.

CK Zheng of ZX Squared Capital has described the shift from retail to institutional ownership as a sign of a healthy bull market [1]. He argues that while Bitcoin’s price remains volatile, this is a natural part of its evolution toward becoming “true digital gold.” Zheng also notes that some whale activity may be part of a broader strategy to diversify into high-growth sectors such as artificial intelligence.

Bitcoin has seen a third major profit-taking wave, with whales exiting at price levels above $120,000, totaling between $6 billion and $8 billion [5]. Despite these large sell-offs, the price has remained relatively stable, with analysts citing chart patterns such as the symmetrical triangle as indicators of a potential near-term breakout [6].

The accumulation by whales, strategic exits, and institutional entry are collectively reshaping Bitcoin's market dynamics. Large-scale capital is increasingly flowing in structured and predictable ways, replacing the previously retail-driven volatility with a more sophisticated and less speculative environment. This shift marks a pivotal moment in Bitcoin's journey toward broader financial market acceptance.

Source:

[1] AInvest (https://www.ainvest.com/news/bitcoin-news-today-bitcoin-whales-offload-9-6b-institutional-buyers-market-2508/)

[2] Adler (https://www.mitrade.com/insights/news/live-news/article-3-1003119-20250801)

[4] Santiment (https://www.ainvest.com/news/bitcoin-news-today-bitcoin-whales-accumulate-218-570-btc-market-consolidation-2508/)

[5] AInvest (https://www.ainvest.com/news/bitcoin-news-today-bitcoin-major-profit-wave-hits-6b-8b-whales-exit-120k-2508/)

[6] BraveNewCoin (https://bravenewcoin.com/insights/bitcoin-btc-price-prediction-bitcoin-may-break-120k-post-fed-as-triangle-pattern-nears-apex)