Bitcoin Whales and Smaller Holders Increase Accumulation Amid Market Dip
Bitcoin whales and smaller investors are showing renewed buying activity as the market trades below $100,000. Over the past week, the number of entities holding at least 1,000 BTC climbed to 1,436, signaling a shift from the steady selling trend observed among long-term holders in 2025.
For context, this group peaked above 1,500 entities in November 2024 during the post-election rally following Donald Trump’s victory, then declined to roughly 1,300 by October 2025. Historically, similar rises in large-holder numbers have preceded price rallies. In January 2024, ahead of the U.S. ETF launch, the number of 1,000+ BTC holders rose from 1,380 to 1,512, with bitcoin ultimately topping $70,000 a few months later.
Glassnode’s Accumulation Trend Score, which tracks coin acquisition across wallet cohorts while excluding exchanges and miners, confirms the shift. Whales holding more than 10,000 BTC are no longer heavy sellers, with a neutral score near 0.5, while holders of 1,000–10,000 BTC show modest accumulation. Strongest buying activity comes from holders with 100–1,000 BTC and wallets under 1 BTC, suggesting growing confidence that bitcoin is undervalued at current levels.
The data indicates that both large and small investors are strategically accumulating, potentially setting the stage for market stabilization or a rebound despite recent weakness
