Bitcoin News Today: Whales Bet on Bitcoin's Future Despite Short-Term Retreat

Bitcoin's price has edged slightly lower in recent days, hovering near $115,000 after a volatile week of trading, with market participants closely watching the behavior of large holders amid ETF outflows and a broader market consolidation phase. Despite the pullback, which has seen the cryptocurrency fall nearly 6% from its August 14 all-time high and nearly 3% weekly, on-chain data indicates that whale wallets continue to accumulate Bitcoin. Santiment reported that wallets holding between 10 and 10,000 BTC added 20,000 BTC since the recent price dip, bringing their total accumulation to over 225,000 BTC since March [1]. This trend has historically been associated with periods of price recovery, with analysts pointing to patterns from the 2017 and 2021 bull runs where similar retracements preceded new upward moves [1].

Meanwhile, the broader market is divided over whether this correction is a temporary pause in an uptrend or the start of a more significant downturn. The divergence in investor sentiment is reflected in ETF flows, with U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs experiencing $121 million in net outflows on August 18, pushing monthly outflows to $140 million. In contrast, Ethereum has attracted a record $2.83 billion in inflows over the same period [1]. CoinShares data shows that Ethereum has attracted $11 billion in inflows year-to-date, compared to $5.3 billion for Bitcoin, as investor preferences shift toward exposure to Ethereum’s staking potential [1].

Bitcoin’s on-chain metrics suggest a bearish near-term bias. The cryptocurrency is below the midline of its Bollinger Bands on the 4-hour chart, indicating ongoing downward pressure, while the short-term EMAs (10–30) tilt bearish. However, longer-term moving averages, such as the 50-, 100-, and 200-day lines, continue to show support for the broader trend. If the $114,000 support level holds, the price could potentially rebound toward the $118,000–$120,000 range [1]. A retest of the recent all-time high near $124,000 would require confirmation from increased volume and sustained buying pressure.

On the other hand, Santiment’s Market Value to Realized Value (MVRV) ratio currently stands at 21%, suggesting that the average investor has made a profit, which could lead to increased profit-taking and downward pressure in the short term [4]. Despite this, whale accumulation continues, indicating that large holders remain optimistic about future price appreciation. The contrast between retail profit-taking and whale accumulation points to a potential tug-of-war in the near term, with each side influencing the direction of the market differently.

Looking further into Ethereum, institutional demand is intensifying, with BitMine Immersion Technology and an unidentified whale acquiring nearly $882 million worth of Ether over the past week. BitMine, a public Bitcoin mining firm, increased its Ethereum holdings by 106,485 ETH, valued at $470.5 million, through over-the-counter (OTC) trades and institutional transfers. Another whale added 92,899 ETH, or $412 million, through several new wallets [3]. These large-scale accumulations highlight growing institutional interest in Ethereum, particularly as regulatory clarity and staking incentives continue to attract corporate and fund-level investors. Standard Chartered recently raised its 2025 Ethereum price target to $7,500, citing increased institutional demand and faster stablecoin adoption [3].

Source: [1] Bitcoin steady at $115K as whales buy despite ETF outflows (https://crypto.news/bitcoin-etfs-outflows-btc-whale-buys-reversal-2025/) [2] Bitcoin whales have accumulated an additional 20061 BTC ... (https://www.chaincatcher.com/en/article/2198500) [3] BitMine, Mystery Whale Snap Up $882M in Ether Amid ... (https://cointelegraph.com/news/ether-accumulation-heats-up-882m-in-eth-snapped-up-by-bitmine-whale) [4] Santiment: Bitcoin Investors Take Profits, But Whales Keep ... (https://cryptodnes.bg/en/santiment-bitcoin-investors-take-profits-but-whales-keep-buying/)