Bitcoin whales are stacking again – Is another breakout coming?

ambcryptoPublished on 2025-10-21Last updated on 2025-10-22

Key Takeaways

Are mid-sized Bitcoin holders bringing in another bull run?

Yes. Addresses holding 100-1,000 BTC are accumulating again, similar to the major rallies of 2017 and 2021.

Is leverage adding to Bitcoin’s recent volatility?

Data showed a shift from long to short liquidations. Both sides are being squeezed.


As Bitcoin [BTC] sees more volatility, a familiar pattern is emerging.

Mid-sized holders are steadily increasing their stacks, just like in previous bull runs. At the same time, leveraged traders are facing liquidations, while short positions are getting squeezed.

Is momentum shifting?

Whales in the making

Addresses holding between 100 and 1,000 BTC (often dubbed “smart money”) have been quietly buying Bitcoin.

bitcoin

Source: Alphractal

This behavior has so far been a key signal before major bull runs.

In both 2017 and 2021, heavy buying by these holders was followed by strong price rallies. But when they slowed down or stopped, major corrections soon followed.

While it’s early to call a pause, the sustained increase in holdings from this group suggests long-term conviction remains intact.

On top of that, this activity continues to be one of Bitcoin’s strongest long-term bullish indicators.

It’s a pattern worth watching.

Leverage drives volatility

Following the steady accumulation by mid-sized Bitcoin holders, leverage dynamics started influencing Bitcoin’s short-term swings.

According to Joao Wedson, CEO of Alphractal, the largest liquidation zones recently shifted from longs to shorts. Over the past 30 days, long positions faced heavy liquidations.

Source: Alphractal

However, recent data showed the highest concentration of open liquidations sat with short positions.

Source: Alphractal

In the last seven days, Bitcoin moved directly into the largest short liquidation pool before reversing.

Source: Alphractal

The 3-day heatmap mirrored this pattern, implying that shorts remain at risk if BTC tests higher liquidity zones again.

Losing steam, but not broken yet

At press time, Bitcoin traded near $108,292, down 0.06% on the day.

The MACD stayed in negative territory, indicating weakening bullish momentum. Meanwhile, the Stochastic RSI was around 20, which means BTC was entering oversold conditions after recent declines.

Source: TradingView

Trading volumes showed a mild recovery, but not enough to confirm strong buying interest.

Overall, we’re in a cooling phase rather than a full-fledged reversal, implying Bitcoin might consolidate in the short term before its next decisive move.

Share

Related Reads

Who Will Make Money in the Age of Agents?

Who will capture value in an era where AI Agents become the primary blockchain users? Existing crypto value capture theories assume human users. "Fat Protocols" (2016) posited that protocols capture the most value as applications commoditize on open data, but this weakened as blockchain infrastructure proliferated and became interchangeable. The emerging "Fat Apps" theory argues applications capturing user relationships (like wallets and aggregators) win by controlling distribution and monetizing user flows. Agents fundamentally disrupt this logic. They don't value UX, brand, or convenience, bypassing the front-end moats of fat apps. This leads to several possible futures: 1. **"Headless" Apps**: Current app leaders (e.g., wallets) strip their front ends and become API infrastructure for Agents, preserving their value capture. 2. **Protocol Renaissance**: If integration is easy, Agents skip aggregators and interact directly with protocols, reviving the fat protocol thesis. 3. **Pricing Power Collapse**: Agents' rational, frictionless price shopping could commoditize the entire stack, compressing margins toward cost. Value flows to Agent owners or end-users. 4. **Unprecedented Activity**: Agents could enable entirely new, high-frequency economic activity (e.g., machine-to-machine commerce), expanding the total value pie. 5. **A New, Unnamed Model**: As with the internet's attention economy, a novel, unforeseen business model may emerge. Likely, human and Agent ecosystems will coexist with distinct value capture dynamics. For builders in the Agent realm, the key question shifts from UX to competitive advantages like liquidity, latency, or settlement guarantees that retain automated users.

链捕手9m ago

Who Will Make Money in the Age of Agents?

链捕手9m ago

What Did Duan Yongping Buy in 2026? From a Small Position in Circle to Heavy Allocations in AI, a Breakdown of the Latest Holdings and New Market Signals

Summary: Duan Yongping's investment portfolio adjustments in Q1 2026, revealed via the H&H International Investment 13F filing, signal strategic shifts towards AI, consumer tech, and emerging digital finance. The total portfolio value reached approximately $20 billion, with high concentration in the top 10 holdings. Key new U.S. positions include a significant initial stake in Tesla (3.41 million shares) and smaller, exploratory positions in AI-focused companies like Palantir, Snowflake, and Synopsys. Notably, a small, new position in Circle (200k shares) marks his first entry into the crypto-related space, specifically targeting compliant stablecoin infrastructure. Major additions were made to existing core holdings: Nvidia (position nearly doubled), Pinduoduo, and Berkshire Hathaway. Apple remained the largest holding, though slightly reduced. Positions in Alibaba, ASML, and CoreWeave were liquidated. In the Hong Kong market, a pivotal move was the complete replacement of China Shenhua Energy with a position in Pop Mart. This highlights a strategic expansion into the Z-generation IP and emotional consumption sector, reflecting confidence in the founder and the brand's long-term potential. Overall, the adjustments demonstrate Duan's ongoing investment philosophy: focusing on "good businesses" with strong leadership, while cautiously expanding his circle of competence into high-growth areas like AI and new consumer trends through initial small positions and portfolio rebalancing.

marsbit23m ago

What Did Duan Yongping Buy in 2026? From a Small Position in Circle to Heavy Allocations in AI, a Breakdown of the Latest Holdings and New Market Signals

marsbit23m ago

Trading

Spot
Futures

Hot Articles

What is $BITCOIN

DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN): A Comprehensive Analysis Introduction to DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) is a blockchain-based project operating on the Solana network, which aims to combine the characteristics of traditional precious metals with the innovation of decentralized technologies. While it shares a name with Bitcoin, often referred to as “digital gold” due to its perception as a store of value, DIGITAL GOLD is a separate token designed to create a unique ecosystem within the Web3 landscape. Its goal is to position itself as a viable alternative digital asset, although specifics regarding its applications and functionalities are still developing. What is DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN)? DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) is a cryptocurrency token explicitly designed for use on the Solana blockchain. In contrast to Bitcoin, which provides a widely recognized value storage role, this token appears to focus on broader applications and characteristics. Notable aspects include: Blockchain Infrastructure: The token is built on the Solana blockchain, known for its capacity to handle high-speed and low-cost transactions. Supply Dynamics: DIGITAL GOLD has a maximum supply capped at 100 quadrillion tokens (100P $BITCOIN), although details regarding its circulating supply are currently undisclosed. Utility: While precise functionalities are not explicitly outlined, there are indications that the token could be utilized for various applications, potentially involving decentralized applications (dApps) or asset tokenization strategies. Who is the Creator of DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN)? At present, the identity of the creators and development team behind DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) remains unknown. This situation is typical among many innovative projects within the blockchain space, particularly those aligning with decentralized finance and meme coin phenomena. While such anonymity may foster a community-driven culture, it intensifies concerns about governance and accountability. Who are the Investors of DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN)? The available information indicates that DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) does not have any known institutional backers or prominent venture capital investments. The project seems to operate on a peer-to-peer model focused on community support and adoption rather than traditional funding routes. Its activity and liquidity are primarily situated on decentralized exchanges (DEXs), such as PumpSwap, rather than established centralized trading platforms, further highlighting its grassroots approach. How DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) Works The operational mechanics of DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) can be elaborated on based on its blockchain design and network attributes: Consensus Mechanism: By leveraging Solana’s unique proof-of-history (PoH) combined with a proof-of-stake (PoS) model, the project ensures efficient transaction validation contributing to the network's high performance. Tokenomics: While specific deflationary mechanisms have not been extensively detailed, the vast maximum token supply implies that it may cater to microtransactions or niche use cases that are still to be defined. Interoperability: There exists the potential for integration with Solana’s broader ecosystem, including various decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms. However, the details regarding specific integrations remain unspecified. Timeline of Key Events Here is a timeline that highlights significant milestones concerning DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN): 2023: The initial deployment of the token occurs on the Solana blockchain, marked by its contract address. 2024: DIGITAL GOLD gains visibility as it becomes available for trading on decentralized exchanges like PumpSwap, allowing users to trade it against SOL. 2025: The project witnesses sporadic trading activity and potential interest in community-led engagements, although no noteworthy partnerships or technical advancements have been documented as of yet. Critical Analysis Strengths Scalability: The underlying Solana infrastructure supports high transaction volumes, which could enhance the utility of $BITCOIN in various transaction scenarios. Accessibility: The potential low trading price per token could attract retail investors, facilitating wider participation due to fractional ownership opportunities. Risks Lack of Transparency: The absence of publicly known backers, developers, or an audit process may yield skepticism regarding the project's sustainability and trustworthiness. Market Volatility: The trading activity is heavily reliant on speculative behavior, which can result in significant price volatility and uncertainty for investors. Conclusion DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) emerges as an intriguing yet ambiguous project within the rapidly evolving Solana ecosystem. While it attempts to leverage the “digital gold” narrative, its departure from Bitcoin's established role as a store of value underscores the need for a clearer differentiation of its intended utility and governance structure. Future acceptance and adoption will likely depend on addressing the current opacity and defining its operational and economic strategies more explicitly. Note: This report encompasses synthesised information available as of October 2023, and developments may have transpired beyond the research period.

363 Total ViewsPublished 2025.05.13Updated 2025.05.13

What is $BITCOIN

Discussions

Welcome to the HTX Community. Here, you can stay informed about the latest platform developments and gain access to professional market insights. Users' opinions on the price of BTC (BTC) are presented below.

活动图片