Bitcoin whales have been the main accumulators in the $80,000 range

AI Summary3 min read

TL;DR

Bitcoin whales holding 1,000-10,000 BTC have been the main accumulators in the $80,000 range, with a strong Accumulation Trend Score near 1, while smaller holders are net sellers amid market fear.

Key Takeaways

  • Whales with 1,000-10,000 BTC show sustained accumulation with a score near 1, supporting bitcoin buying in the $80,000 range.
  • Smaller holders (under 1,000 BTC) are net sellers, reflecting capitulation as the Crypto Fear and Greed Index remains in fear/extreme fear.
  • The 10,000+ BTC whale cohort slowed accumulation recently but is not selling, contrasting with earlier behavior when bitcoin topped $100,000.
Chart and heatmap for trend accumulation score by cohort (Glassnode)
Trend accumulation score by cohort (Glassnode)

What to know:

  • Glassnode data shows the 1,000 to 10,000 BTC whale cohort has supported sustained bitcoin buying over the past few weeks.
  • The group has a strong Accumulation Trend Score, near 1.
  • Entities holding fewer than 1,000 BTC are net sellers, a pattern consistent with capitulation as the Crypto Fear and Greed Index has remained in "fear" or "extreme fear" for the past month.
  • Glassnode data shows the 1,000 to 10,000 BTC whale cohort has supported sustained bitcoin buying over the past few weeks.
  • The group has a strong Accumulation Trend Score, near 1.
  • Entities holding fewer than 1,000 BTC are net sellers, a pattern consistent with capitulation as the Crypto Fear and Greed Index has remained in "fear" or "extreme fear" for the past month.

Bitcoin BTC$87,968.26 whales, or holders with at least 1,000 BTC, have been the dominant buyers since the price of the largest cryptocurrency bottomed near $80,000 at the end of November, according to Glassnode data. They remain the strongest accumulators as bitcoin trades just below $90,000.

According to Glassnode data, the 1,000-10,000 BTC cohort is the only group showing sustained accumulation, with an Accumulation Trend Score close to 1.

The metric breaks down buying and selling behavior across wallet cohorts, measuring both the size of entities and the net amount of bitcoin they have acquired over the past 15 days. A score closer to 1 indicates accumulation, while a score closer to 0 signals distribution.

The data suggests that large holders have been accumulating bitcoin in the $80,000 range, a price level bitcoin has not traded in for an extended period compared with other price buckets.

This behavior contrasts sharply with smaller holders, all of whom show varying degrees of distribution.

Given that the Crypto Fear and Greed Index has remained in "fear" or "extreme fear" for roughly the past 30 days, this selling pressure from smaller entities likely reflects capitulation.

Meanwhile, the 10,000-plus BTC whale cohort was aggressively buying when bitcoin traded near $80,000 in late November, though they have begun to slow over recent weeks. Still, as a cohort they are not yet selling, which was the dominant behavior the the BTC price topped $100,000 around mid-year.

2025 was defined by a stark divergence: structural progress collided with stagnant price action. Institutional milestones were reached and TVL increased across most major ecosystems, yet the majority of large-cap Layer-1 tokens finished the year with negative or flat returns.

This report analyzes the structural decoupling between network usage and token performance. We examine 10 major blockchain ecosystems, exploring protocol versus application revenues, key ecosystem narratives, mechanics driving institutional adoption, and the trends to watch as we head into 2026.

  • DOT slipped 2% to $1.84 as the wider crypto market fell just marginally.
  • A technical breakout would target the $2.00-$2.50 range.

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