Bitcoin peeled off exchanges this year in ‘positive long-term sign’

cointelegraphPublished on 2025-12-09Last updated on 2025-12-09

Abstract

According to Santiment, over 403,000 Bitcoin (BTC) have been moved off exchanges since December 2024, representing a 2% decrease in exchange-held BTC compared to the previous year. This trend is viewed as a positive long-term indicator, as reduced exchange supply historically lowers the risk of major sell-offs and supports price stability. Analysts suggest these outflows are partly due to users moving coins into cold storage for long-term holding. Additionally, institutional accumulation via ETFs is absorbing significant supply—ETFs and public companies now hold more Bitcoin than all exchanges combined. This shift reflects growing institutional ownership, reduced liquid supply, and a strengthening market structure less dependent on trading platforms.

There are at least 400,000 fewer Bitcoin on exchanges compared to the same time last year, in a positive sign for the market, according to the market intelligence platform Santiment.

Over 403,000 Bitcoin (BTC) have moved off exchanges since Dec. 7, 2024, representing roughly 2% of the total supply, Santiment said in an X post on Monday, citing data from its sanbase dashboard.

Users often move their Bitcoin away from exchanges into cold storage wallets, which, in theory, makes it harder to sell and could signal long-term plans to hold.

“In general, this is a positive long-term sign. The less coins exist on exchanges, the less likely we’ve historically seen a major sell-off that causes downside pressure for an asset’s price.”

“As Bitcoin's market value hovers around $90K, crypto’s top market cap continues to see its supply moving away from exchanges,” Santiment added.

A year ago, there were around 1.8 million Bitcoin on exchanges. Source: Santiment

Bitcoin is also shifting into ETFs

While much of the Bitcoin on exchanges is likely headed back to hodler wallets, Giannis Andreou, the founder and CEO of crypto miner Bitmern Mining, said that exchange-traded funds (ETF) could also be absorbing these coins.

Citing data from BitcoinTresuries.Net, Andreou said ETFs and public companies now hold more Bitcoin than all exchanges combined, after years of outflows and ETFs quietly accumulating in the background.

Related: Strategy’s Bitcoin treasury swells past 660,000 BTC after fresh $962M buy

“Institutional ownership has quietly crossed into a new phase: less liquid supply, more long-term holders, stronger price reflexivity, a market driven by regulated vehicles, not trading platforms,” Andreou said.

“This shift is bigger than people think. Bitcoin isn’t moving to exchanges anymore. It’s moving off them straight into institutions that don’t sell easily. The supply squeeze is building in real time.”

ETFs and private companies hold more Bitcoin than exchanges

Crypto data analytics platform CoinGlass shows the same trend, with Bitcoin held on exchanges sitting at around 2.11 million as of Nov. 22, when Bitcoin was suffering through a correction and trading hands for around $84,600.

Bitcoin held on exchanges has been steadily falling over the last year. Source: CoinGlass

BitBo lists ETFs as holding over 1.5 million Bitcoin and public companies with over one million, representing nearly 11% of the total supply combined.

Magazine: Koreans ‘pump’ alts after Upbit hack, China BTC mining surge: Asia Express

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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

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