Bitcoin News Today: Whales and Institutions Anchor Bitcoin Amid Volatility Surge

Bitcoin's recent price fluctuations have found an unexpected stabilizer: aggressive accumulation by institutional investors and large-scale "whale" holders. A surge in strategic buying from major players has offset broader market pressures, with on-chain data and institutional surveys painting a picture of growing confidence in the cryptocurrency's long-term trajectory despite short-term volatility, according to a Coinotag analysis.

The most striking example came this week as a single Bitcoin whale—identified by the address bc1qd3—accumulated $356.6 million worth of BTC within five hours, marking one of the largest rapid accumulation events in recent months, as reported by CryptoBriefing. This move aligns with broader trends observed by crypto analytics firm Santiment, which reported that holders with 10,000 to 100,000 BTC increased their balances by 2.5% in Q3 2025, controlling over 15% of the total supply. Meanwhile, Glassnode data shows that 75% of Bitcoin's circulating supply remains untouched for over a year, reflecting deep conviction among long-term holders.

Institutional optimism further underpins this bullish momentum. A Coinbase survey, "Navigating Uncertainty," revealed that 67% of institutions expect Bitcoin prices to rise through 2026, despite ongoing volatility. This confidence is supported by robust exchange outflows, with daily net withdrawals averaging 1,200 BTC in October 2025, according to on-chain analytics. Large investors, including figures like Tom Lee and Michael Saylor, have added to their holdings during price dips, while products like BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust have drawn $500 million in inflows over the past month.

However, Bitcoin faces headwinds from declining illiquid supply. As of October 23, 2025, dormant wallets released 62,000 BTC ($6.8 billion) into circulation, expanding available liquidity and intensifying selling pressures. Mid-sized holders (0.1–100 BTC) have also contributed to outflows for nearly a year, contracting first-time buyer supply to 213,000 BTC. Yet, whale accumulation of 16,300 BTC over 30 days has provided a counterbalance, suggesting strategic buying amid thinning market participation.

Market dynamics have grown more volatile in recent days. Coinglass data shows $213 million in liquidations over the past four hours, with 91% stemming from short positions, according to a Lookonchain feed. Notably, an address linked to former BitMEX CEO Andrew Kang expanded its BTC short exposure to a 40x leverage position, valued at $48.23 million, as Bitcoin's total short book neared $75.74 million, per reporting from Coinotag. These developments highlight the precarious balance between bearish bets and institutional accumulation.

Analysts argue that whale and institutional activity is critical to Bitcoin's near-term stability. "The combination of long-term holder confidence and strategic accumulation positions Bitcoin for a stronger bull run," said Coinbase experts. While short-term pressures persist, the sustained inflows from major players—and the broader maturation of institutional adoption—suggest Bitcoin's trajectory remains upward.