Bitcoin Whales Buy $2.75 Billion After Months of Selling

CryptoQuant tracks large-holder balances and realized price — the average cost basis implied by when tokens last moved — to gauge where digital-asset cycles stand. Whale accumulation during a decline matters because it shifts supply from smaller sellers to investors viewed as more willing to hold, potentially tightening the tradable float once demand returns. The signal is constructive, but it does not establish that a market bottom is in; concentration also leaves prices exposed to the actions of fewer, larger holders.

In an Aug. 5 report, CryptoQuant said bitcoin whale balances, excluding exchanges, miners, ETFs and digital-asset treasury companies, rose to about 3.06 million BTC from 2.87 million in December 2025. Wallets holding 10,000 to 100,000 ETH increased their combined balance to a record 19.6 million ETH from about 14 million in mid-2025, while XRP remained in a $1.00-$1.20 range. Bitcoin traded near $64,640 against a $52,900 realized price, and ether near $1,900 versus a $2,450 realized price. CryptoQuant called the setup consistent with a late-stage bear market, while warning of another leg lower.

Bitfinex said Bitcoin whales continue to move their holdings into long-term storage, reducing the amount of BTC available for sale on exchanges. The supply squeeze matters because daily new Bitcoin issuance is limited. If demand from large holders persists, thinning market liquidity could amplify price swings and provide important support for Bitcoin’s attempt to reach $90,000.

Whales accumulated more than 270,000 BTC over the past 30 days, absorbing about 20 times the daily new supply in the largest buying wave since 2013. They purchased about $16.7 billion worth over two weeks, continuing to buy even as Bitcoin ETFs recorded an unprecedented $4 billion in net outflows during the same period. BTC balances across global exchanges also fell to their lowest level since December 2017.