Big Bitcoin Holders Step Aside as Whale Activity Slows - Crypto Economy

TLDR:

• High-volume transactions have fallen drastically from 5,000 to fewer than 1,800 daily movements.
• The price remains in a tight range between $65,000 and $70,000 following the last correction.
• The exchange inflow ratio rose to 0.81, approaching levels considered a bearish warning.

The crypto market is experiencing an intense change of pace following recent price fluctuations. Over the last 15 days, Bitcoin whale activity has recorded a 72% decline, coinciding with the pioneer’s inability to sustain itself above $70,000.

Ali Martinez recently shared that high-value daily transfers dropped from peaks of over 5,000 to just 1,800. This phenomenon suggests that major players have entered “hibernation,” avoiding market pressure while a clear trend is defined.

This operational silence is evident, but market liquidity has become thinner, which could lead to lower volatility in the short term. Nonetheless, experts are debating whether this retreat is a sign of capitulation or simply a tactical pause by institutional investors.


The increase in flows toward exchanges

Although blockchain movement has slowed down, metrics paint a concerning trend regarding deposits into trading platforms. In mid-February, the whale exchange inflow ratio reached a high of 0.81, compared to 0.31 recorded in January.

A level above 0.85 is generally a clear bearish signal, as it indicates that large holders dominate deposits and could be preparing to sell. For now, by staying below this threshold, there is still room for retail investor participation.

In summary, investor alarms are triggered by the combination of lower on-chain activity and increased flows toward exchanges. The market is in a holding pattern, waiting for these entities to decide whether the current consolidation period will end in a bullish breakout or a new correction.