Demand Test: Bitcoin Whales Earn Record $1.2 Billion, Ethereum Holders Return to Profitability
In just three days after Bitcoin's price recovery, new Bitcoin whales have realized over $1.2 billion in profit, marking the largest profit-taking event for this cohort on record according to CryptoQuant. The peak occurred on August 20 with roughly $614 million, setting a daily record. Analysts note this selling pressure began after Bitcoin rose above the realized price of short-term whales, which was around $68,900. With Bitcoin trading near $77,700 on August 23, these whales were sitting on an average profit of about 12.8%. The market recovery allowed investors who were previously at breakeven or at a loss to lock in gains. CryptoQuant described the situation as a key test for Bitcoin demand; sustained prices above whale cost-basis with normalized profit-taking could signal strong new demand, while continued selling pressure could turn the rally into a mere break-even exit.
Simultaneously, large Ethereum holders have also returned to an unrealized profit zone following its rally, as noted by CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost. Current profit levels, however, remain relatively low and are not seen as creating significant selling pressure. The Unrealized Profit/Loss Ratio for different whale cohorts stands at 0.075 (for 1k-10k ETH holders), 0.16 (10k-100k ETH), and 0.38 (over 100k ETH). This marks a significant improvement from June, when these whales were in substantial unrealized loss, with Ethereum having risen over 65% since then. The increased profitability is viewed as a positive sentiment signal for the Ethereum market.
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