In a striking turn of events, Bitcoin (BTC) whales have sold approximately $13 billion worth of the cryptocurrency over the past month, signaling a significant shift in market dynamics. This surge in selling activity has not been seen since 2022 and has raised considerable concerns among investors navigating the current volatile market environment.
According to data from CryptoQuant, wallets holding between 1,000 and 10,000 BTC unloaded over 116,000 BTC during this period. This increase in sell-offs has contributed to growing pressure on the markets, especially during the latter part of August and into the beginning of September. The market appears to be gripped by uncertainty, exacerbated by macroeconomic factors, including speculation around potential rate cuts by the U.S. Federal Reserve.
In tandem with the activity among Bitcoin whales, U.S. spot BTC exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are experiencing their own bearish trends. Recent figures reveal that these ETFs command $144.05 billion in net assets, which now represent 6.48% of their market capitalization. However, the ETF market also saw notable outflows. Reports from SoSoValue indicate that BTC ETFs faced daily net outflows of $160.18 million last week, pushing September’s monthly inflows to $246.42 million after a promising start.
The inflow and outflow dynamics have been relatively balanced over the last 30 days, with BTC ETFs recording 17 days of inflows totaling $3.17 billion, countered by 13 days of outflows amounting to approximately $3.16 billion. Despite efforts to generate positive momentum, BTC funds finished August with a net outflow of $751.12 million.
September did see a brief return of inflows, with a two-day streak that garnered $634 million, but this was short-lived. Between September 4 and 5, the funds recorded a significant net outflow of $387.6 million, highlighting the ongoing volatility.
Overall, Bitcoin’s market dominance has also seen a decline, slipping 3.58% over the past month. As market participants grapple with these developments, the outlook remains uncertain, reflecting a broader hesitance among investors in both Bitcoin and the altcoin markets.