Smart Money Accumulates $3.2 Billion in Bitcoin: Implications for Price Movement

In recent days, Bitcoin (BTC) whales and shark holders have ramped up their accumulation, even as smaller retail investors pull back from the market. Santiment refers to this trend as creating “optimal conditions” for a potential price breakout. This disparity in holding behavior occurs amidst increased market volatility, with Bitcoin wiping out nearly all gains from 2026.

Key Takeaways

Bitcoin whales and sharks are accumulating significant BTC despite smaller retail investors selling off.
In the past nine days, large holders acquired over $3.2 billion worth of Bitcoin.
Retail investors reduced their holdings, indicating a trend where weaker hands sell during market dips.
The outlook for Bitcoin remains divided, with some predicting further downside risks while others see potential for a long-term recovery.
Macro factors and global risk sentiment will play a vital role in determining Bitcoin's price movements moving forward.

Accumulation by Large Holders Amid Retail Exit

Following a tough conclusion to 2025, Bitcoin entered the new year on a high note, with the cryptocurrency rising over 7% in the first five days of January, buoyed by renewed optimism across various risk assets. However, this positive momentum was short-lived as market volatility soon resurfaced.

Last week, despite a brief recovery, the overall market landscape worsened after U.S. President Donald Trump announced tariffs on eight nations in the European Union (EU), leading to renewed market uncertainty. This development put pressure on risk assets, resulting in another downturn in the cryptocurrency sector.

According to BeInCrypto Markets data, Bitcoin has seen a decline of 6.25% over the past week and dipped below the $88,000 mark for the first time this year. At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading at $89,329, marking a 3.31% decrease in the last 24 hours.

Bitcoin Price Performance. Source: BeInCrypto Markets

Despite the ongoing volatility, BTC whales and sharks have significantly raised their positions. Santiment's data reveals that wallets holding between 10 and 10,000 BTC have collectively acquired 36,322 coins, worth approximately $3.2 billion at current prices, over the past nine days. This represents a 0.27% increase in their holdings.

In stark contrast, retail investors have exhibited a different trend. Over the same nine-day period, small holders sold off 132 coins, reflecting a 0.28% decrease in their collective investments.

Typically, this shift indicates that less experienced investors exit the market during downward price movements, while seasoned investors take advantage of the dip by purchasing more.

“Optimal conditions for a crypto breakout exist when smart money accumulates while retail investors liquidate,” the analysis highlighted. “Disregarding geopolitical events, this behavior fosters a long-term bullish divergence.”

Retail has exited the Bitcoin market while whales continue to buy. pic.twitter.com/5I8ev1GftT — Ki Young Ju (@ki_young_ju)

Looking ahead, despite the accumulation by smart money, opinions on Bitcoin's outlook remain mixed. Some analysts are seeing bear market signals, which raises concerns about potential further price declines. Conversely, others are identifying emerging indicators that suggest the possibility of a long-term recovery.

For the time being, Bitcoin's responsiveness to global macroeconomic trends is a crucial aspect to monitor. The direction of Bitcoin's price, whether it continues to decline in the near term or starts to regain strength, will largely depend on the evolution of global risk sentiment.