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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363 Total ViewsPublished 2025.05.13Updated 2025.05.13

What is $BITCOIN

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