Bitcoin faces mounting pressure as whales offload massive holdings, marking the biggest distribution since July 2022.
Over 112,000 coins, worth roughly $12.7 billion, were sold in the past month. The sharp reduction has disrupted market momentum and sparked heightened volatility.
Whale Selling Pushes Prices Lower
Data from CryptoQuant shows whale reserves dropped by more than 100,000 Bitcoin in 30 days.
These large holders, with balances ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 BTC, had previously accumulated nearly 270,000 coins between April and August.
Source: CryptoQuant
The seven-day balance change peaked on September 3, when whales moved over 95,000 BTC. That was the largest weekly movement since March 2021.
The intense activity forced Bitcoin below $108,000 at the height of the selling.
Bitcoin closed August down 6.5%, marking the end of a four-month winning streak. Prices fell from a $115,778 opening, as profit-taking drove the decline.
The correction from mid-August highs remains 13%, far smaller than past pullbacks, but still significant for traders watching key levels.
CryptoQuant analyst “caueconomy” noted the reduction reflects “intense risk aversion among large investors.”
The firm’s report highlights the trend as the steepest coin distribution of the year. The continued sales could keep prices under pressure in the coming weeks.
Institutional buyers provide counterbalance
Despite the heavy whale exits, institutional demand is helping stabilize the market. Corporate buyers and ETF inflows continue to absorb some of the supply.
LVRG Research director Nick Ruck said this creates a “structural counterbalance” against whale distribution.
This divergence signals market resilience even as major network players cut exposure. Institutional accumulation during the sell-off has helped Bitcoin trade in a tighter band.
Prices have hovered between $110,000 and $111,000 for the past three days, suggesting reduced selling pressure.
Bitcoin entrepreneur David Bailey said the price could surge to $150,000 if two key whales stop selling. His comments highlight how concentrated the selling pressure remains.
Recent data also suggests the pace of dumping is easing, with weekly balance changes dropping to around 38,000 BTC as of September 6.
Still, the inability to close above $110,000 since July signals consolidation. The cryptocurrency reached all-time highs of $123,000 to $124,000 earlier in the summer but failed to hold gains.
Broader market outlook
The Federal Reserve’s next rate decision, due within 10 days, could prove decisive for risk assets. Monetary policy remains a key factor shaping market sentiment.
According to the Bitcoin price prediction from the likes of Coinlore, the price of BTC could hit $112,247 in the next 10 days, especially with the upcoming Federal Reserve’s next rate decision.
According to analyst ZYN, the Bitcoin price is replicating a pattern that happened in Q3 2024 and Q2 2025, and the 0.382 Fibonacci level, currently around $100K, could be the lowest we could see before a 50% rally above $150,000.
In the long term, market predictions suggest the cryptocurrency could rise to $221,485 before the year ends.
A popular analyst called Whale.Guru on X suggests that this could be the last shakeup we are witnessing before a rally to $200k.