Bitcoin: Retail floods in, but it’s whale silence that you need to look at

Key takeaways

Bitcoin is showing strong demand as net outflows hit a yearly high despite 60K BTC flowing into exchanges. However, whales remain steady — a setup for accumulation before a potential move higher.

Bitcoin [BTC] is showing signs of strength.

Over 60,000 BTC flowed into exchanges this week, yet net outflows have surged to a yearly high — while traders are taking profits, long-term holders remain unfazed.

Meanwhile, retail participation in Futures markets is rising sharply, even as whales hold their ground.

We may be on our way to a consolidation phase that’s less about weakness and more about preparing for the next move up.

Market shows remarkable absorption

Source: CryptoQuant

In a striking show of market resilience, over 60,000 BTC were deposited into exchanges in a single day (typically a bearish signal) but were swiftly countered by more than 90,000 BTC in outflows.

Source: CryptoQuant

This led to a net outflow of around 29,000 BTC, the largest seen in the past year.

Source: CryptoQuant

The move further highlights a robust demand profile, where buyers are stepping in aggressively despite volatile price action.

Source: CryptoQuant

Supporting this, exchange reserves fell to a fresh low, so long-term holders are continuing to withdraw coins from trading venues; a bullish trend during price turbulence.

Retail piles in, whales sit tight

Retail traders are making their presence known, with Futures markets seeing a sharp uptick in smaller-sized orders; particularly within the tight $116K-$120K range.

This kind of activity often indicates increased risk appetite from less experienced traders.

Source: CryptoQuant

However, what’s equally important is what’s not happening: large whale sell orders are noticeably absent.

The big players appear content to sit through this consolidation, a behavior that historically precedes major upside moves. This suggests confidence in the broader bullish trend.