Time To Buy? Bitcoin Slips Below Cost Basis — Saylor Signals ‘More Orange’

bitcoinistPublished on 2026-02-03Last updated on 2026-02-03

Abstract

Bitcoin's price decline briefly pushed major holders into losses, but key players like Michael Saylor's MicroStrategy signaled continued accumulation with his "More Orange" post. The company holds roughly 712,647 BTC. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs, managing $113 billion, now have an average buy price above current market levels, creating paper losses despite ongoing institutional buying. Exchange reserves have fallen to multi-year lows, suggesting long-term holding rather than panic selling. Network transaction fees remained low during the volatility, and despite a brief hashrate drop, corporate buying optimism persists. MicroStrategy recently completed its largest purchase since February 2025, adding 13,627 BTC worth $1.3 billion, indicating strong conviction at the corporate level.

Bitcoin’s price crash over the weekend pushed some big holders into the red for a short while, but a handful of major players signaled they were still buying into the dip.

Strategy’s executive chairman Michael Saylor posted on X “More Orange” after the slide, hinting at fresh accumulation for a company that has been steadily adding to its stash for years.

Reports show Strategy’s holdings remain large, at roughly 712,647 BTC, which underlines why its moves draw so much attention from traders and investors.

Average ETF Cost Still Above Trading Levels

Reports say US spot Bitcoin ETFs manage about $113 billion and hold roughly 1.28 million BTC, putting an implied average buy price above current market rates.

This gap explains why many ETF positions are showing losses on paper even though some institutions keep buying.

The fact that passive products can be underwater at the same time a corporate buyer adds to its balance sheet creates an odd mix of market signals.

Exchange Balances Continue To Fall

One sign the sell-off may not be pure panic is the steady flow of coins off exchanges into private wallets. Reports note exchange reserves have slid to levels not seen in years, a trend that often points to long-term hoarding rather than immediate selling.

Lower exchange balances usually mean there are fewer coins ready to be sold quickly, which can make price swings more extreme when demand dries up.

BTCUSD currently trading at $77,905. Chart: TradingView

Transaction Costs Remain Low

On the network side, average transaction fees stayed relatively modest during the crash, so ordinary activity did not choke the chain.

Data show the typical fee hovered around $0.7 per transfer in late January, which keeps small transfers practical and means the network was not under strain even as prices moved sharply. Low fees can encourage more on-chain movement without creating bottlenecks.

Image: MasterClass

Network Security Saw A Brief Drop

Reports have highlighted a recent pullback in hashrate, as miners in some regions faced weather and operational disruptions, causing a near-term drop of roughly 12% from prior highs.

Optimism Is High

Strategy has ramped up its Bitcoin buying after a slower period in 2025, completing its largest purchase since February last year. The firm added 13,627 BTC worth about $1.3 billion, signaling a renewed push to grow its holdings.

Saylor’s latest post fits a familiar pattern that markets have learned to watch closely. Each time Bitcoin stumbles into fear-heavy territory, his brief messages tend to surface, often read as quiet confidence rather than noise.

While prices remain fragile and sentiment uneven, Strategy’s continued signaling suggests conviction has not faded at the corporate level.

Featured image from Alexander Spatari/Getty Images, chart from TradingView

Related Questions

QWhat did Michael Saylor post on X after Bitcoin's price crash, and what does it imply?

AMichael Saylor posted 'More Orange' on X, which is widely interpreted as a signal that his company, MicroStrategy, is continuing to buy more BTC during the price dip.

QAccording to the article, why are many U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF positions showing paper losses?

AThe implied average buy price for the BTC held by US spot Bitcoin ETFs is above the current market trading levels, meaning the coins were purchased at a higher price than they are currently worth.

QWhat does the steady flow of coins off exchanges into private wallets indicate about the market sentiment?

AIt indicates a trend of long-term hoarding rather than immediate selling, suggesting that the sell-off may not be driven by pure panic.

QHow did Bitcoin's network transaction fees behave during the recent price crash?

AAverage transaction fees remained relatively low, hovering around $0.7 per transfer, indicating that ordinary network activity was not strained and small transfers remained practical.

QWhat recent change did MicroStrategy make to its Bitcoin purchasing strategy, as mentioned in the article?

AMicroStrategy ramped up its Bitcoin buying after a slower period in 2025, completing its largest purchase since February of the previous year by adding 13,627 BTC worth about $1.3 billion.

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