Bitcoin News Today: Bitcoin Whales Unload $12.7B—Market Holds Its Breath

Bitcoin whale activity has intensified, with major holders offloading approximately 115,000 BTC—valued at $12.7 billion—over the past month, according to data from CryptoQuant. This marks the largest sell-off by large investors since July 2022, signaling heightened risk aversion among those with substantial BTC holdings. Whale reserves, defined as wallets containing between 1,000 and 10,000 BTC, have declined by over 100,000 BTC in the last 30 days. The seven-day net movement also reached its highest level since March 2021, with over 95,000 BTC moved in a single week. However, the pace of selling appears to have slowed recently, with the weekly net sell figure dropping to 38,000 BTC as of September 6.

Analysts have interpreted this trend as a sign of growing caution among large holders of Bitcoin. CryptoQuant analyst “caueconomy” noted that the trend of reducing exposure by major network participants continues to intensify, contributing to downward pressure on BTC’s price. At one point, Bitcoin’s price fell below $108,000, raising concerns of a potential break below the key $100,000 psychological level. Analysts warn that sustained whale selling, combined with bearish historical signals, could push the price further downward. However, institutional buyers and ETF-driven demand are providing some counterbalance to this selling pressure. Nick Ruck of LVRG Research emphasized that traders should monitor whether institutional dip-buying can offset whale-driven selling, though macroeconomic factors—such as the U.S. Federal Reserve’s September rate decision—could ultimately influence the broader market direction.

Despite the recent volatility, Bitcoin’s correction remains relatively shallow, having dropped only 13% from its mid-August all-time high. The one-year moving average has also shown strong growth, climbing from $52,000 to $94,000 over the past year. This long-term upward trend suggests resilience in the face of short-term fluctuations. Moreover, the overall market cap of Bitcoin has increased by $1.13 trillion year-to-date, reinforcing the asset’s underlying strength. Institutional demand has remained robust, with corporate treasury holdings recently surpassing 1 million BTC, and nearly 9,800 BTC added in the first week of September alone.

However, recent data also indicates a shift in institutional buying behavior. Average purchase sizes have sharply declined, with transactions averaging only 1,200 BTC in August—down from significantly larger figures in early 2025. This suggests more cautious sentiment among institutional investors in the short term. At the same time, U.S. spot BTC exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have experienced bearish trends, with net assets totaling $144.05 billion, representing 6.48% of the market cap. These ETFs recorded $3.17 billion in inflows over 17 days in the past month, but were offset by $3.16 billion in outflows. The net outflows were particularly pronounced in the final weeks of August, with BTC funds ending the month with a $751.12 million total net outflow.

Bitcoin’s broader market dynamics remain complex, as investors navigate uncertainty around macroeconomic conditions and the timing of an altcoin season. The ongoing anticipation for the Fed’s rate decision adds to the volatility. While whale selling continues to dominate headlines, the interplay between large investor behavior, institutional buying, and ETF dynamics will be key in determining Bitcoin’s near-term trajectory.

Source:

[1] Bitcoin Whale Selloff 2025 (https://bitbo.io/news/bitcoin-whale-selloff-2025/)

[2] Analysts Warn of $100K Dip as Bitcoin Sees Biggest Whale Sell-off in 3 Years (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/analysts-warn-100k-dip-bitcoin-082722215.html)

[3] Bitcoin Whales Sold $13B Over Past 30 Days, BTC ETFs (https://www.ccn.com/news/crypto/bitcoin-whales-sold-13b-btc-etfs/)