Key Takeaways:

  • Bitcoin’s price experienced a dip below $112,000 as both large and small Bitcoin holders moved their assets to exchanges.
  • Analysts caution that continued large-scale selling by major holders could lead to a more significant and prolonged price correction for Bitcoin.
  • Exchange activity indicates a substantial exit from the market, though Bitcoin is currently attempting to regain a value of $114,000.

Data indicates that Bitcoin (BTC) owners are engaging in widespread selling as the cryptocurrency’s value drops below $112,000.

Information from the on-chain analytics provider CryptoQuant reveals a trend where both new investors and major holders (whales) are transferring their coins to exchanges.

Bitcoin Whales and Short-Term Holders Head to Exchanges

Bitcoin’s recent drop to a three-week low on Sunday has shaken investor confidence, with exchange flow data suggesting a rush to sell.

CryptoQuant data shows that on August 1st, short-term holders (STHs) sent over 40,000 BTC to exchanges at a loss within a 24-hour period.

This represents the largest outflow since July 15th. Analyst J. A. Maartunn described this situation as STHs “bleeding BTC.”

Bitcoin STH coins sent in profit/loss to exchanges. Source: CryptoQuant

August 1st witnessed a notable increase in overall exchange activity, with CryptoQuant reporting a total net inflow of 16,417 BTC for the day.

Another contributor, Arab Chain, pointed out in a “Quicktake” blog post on Saturday that “the Exchange Whale Ratio indicator rose above 0.70, indicating that most of these deposits originated from whales.”

“Typically, when substantial deposits coincide with whales dominating these deposits, the market enters a phase of selling pressure and rapid decline. Continued Bitcoin deposits to exchanges at the current rate by whales are expected to further pressure the Bitcoin price.”

Bitcoin exchange whale ratio
Bitcoin exchange whale ratio. Source: CryptoQuant

This latest surge in exchange inflows reinforces a trend that has been developing since early July, when BTC/USD surpassed $110,000 for the first time.

In another “Quicktake” post, contributor Darkfost commented, “Since the beginning of July, the monthly average of BTC inflows to Binance has been consistently increasing. Daily inflows have risen from approximately 5,300 BTC to 7,000 BTC today, reflecting a steady upward trend over the past month.”

“While the increase isn’t drastic, it marks the end of a prolonged downtrend that started in March, suggesting a change in investor behavior.”

Bitcoin BTC inflows 30-day moving average
Bitcoin BTC inflows 30-day moving average (screenshot). Source: CryptoQuant

Trader Notes Unusual Weekend Bitcoin Price Action

As Cointelegraph reported, the selling pressure and risk aversion extended beyond individual investors into the institutional realm.

Related: ​​Arthur Hayes Predicts Bitcoin Retracement to $100K Due to Macroeconomic Factors

US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) experienced outflows totaling $812 million on August 1st, representing the second-largest single-day withdrawal ever recorded.

Analyzing the composition of exchange order books, prominent trader and analyst Skew observed a major market participant attempting to liquidate their holdings.

On Saturday, he told his followers on X that “This very substantial quoting on a weekend indicates a major player needed to reduce risk exposure before the start of the week,” calling it “not your average weekend price action.”

“Since weekends often experience lower liquidity and wider bid-ask spreads, a trading desk would need to provide sufficient liquidity to accommodate a large client selling off risk without causing a significant market slide.”

BTC/USDT order book data
BTC/USDT order book data. Source: Skew/X

At the time of writing, BTC/USD was trading around $114,000, according to data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView, representing a 1.3% increase for the day.

BTC/USD 1-hour chart
BTC/USD 1-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments carry significant risk, and readers should conduct thorough research before making any decisions.