Bitcoin’s Price Action: Old Whales and Institutional Interest

Bitcoin’s price has been on a rollercoaster lately. Let’s break down what’s happening.

Whales Are Selling, But It’s Not a Panic

Bitcoin started the year strong, exceeding $92,000 and gaining over 6%. This was good news for investors, but the price is still stuck below the $100,000 mark. So, who’s selling?

According to Ki Young Ju, CEO of CryptoQuant, it’s the “old whales”—long-term Bitcoin holders. They’ve been quietly offloading significant amounts of Bitcoin, often through over-the-counter (OTC) transactions. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; it could be a strategic move to redistribute holdings.

While this selling pressure exists, it’s not causing a market crash. The OTC transactions and exchange deposits are happening in a controlled manner, suggesting a calculated approach by these experienced investors.

Institutional Interest: A Mixed Bag

The buying pressure is mainly coming from US institutions, particularly on Coinbase. However, Coinbase’s daily premium (a measure of institutional demand) is at a two-year low. This means that while institutions are buying, it’s not enough to push Bitcoin to its next big rally.

For Bitcoin to really take off, we need to see a significant increase in institutional buying.

Technical Analysis: The $95,000 and $100,000 Hurdles

Bitcoin is currently trading above $95,000, which is positive. Holding above this level is crucial; it strengthens the possibility of a move towards $100,000. Breaking through $100,000 would be a huge win for Bitcoin bulls.

However, there’s still a lot of uncertainty. While staying above $95,000 is good, the market needs more momentum to overcome the selling pressure. The $92,000 level is also important; falling below it could trigger a more significant correction.

In short, Bitcoin is in a bit of a holding pattern. The next few days will be crucial in determining whether it can break through resistance and continue its upward trajectory.