While Bitcoin continues to hover supra the $100,000 threshold, the driving forces down this historical consolidation signifier look to beryllium much analyzable than the surface-level narratives of organization “FOMO” and ETF euphoria. According to aggregate starring analysts, a soundless rotation is underway—one that suggests semipermanent holders are offloading their positions portion firm treasuries and organization buyers softly sorb the flood.
OG Bitcoin Whales Are ‘Dumping’ On Wall Street
Charles Edwards, laminitis of Capriole Investments, delivered a sobering breakdown via X connected June 29, challenging the prevailing content that Bitcoin’s terms stagnation amid surging request is anomalous. “People are wondering wherefore BTC has been stuck astatine $100K truthful long, contempt the organization FOMO,” helium wrote. “Despite what X quality mightiness suggest, it’s due to the fact that Bitcoin OGs (long-term holders) person been dumping connected Wall St since the ETF Launch successful January 2024, unloading their positions.”
Edwards, known for blending on-chain metrics with macro frameworks, pointed to a disposable dynamic displacement that is present being captured successful blockchain data. While older coins are being redistributed, a newer people of holders—primarily treasury-oriented entities—are stepping successful aggressively. “We person intelligibly entered the vigor of [the Treasury Company] inclination contiguous arsenic galore copy-cats person entered the market,” helium said, referencing his earlier prediction connected Bits and Bips that corporate adoption would yet eclipse ETF inflows successful relevance.
What makes this modulation peculiarly singular is the information down it. Edwards highlighted that 6-month-plus BTC holders—commonly associated with much strategic, non-speculative accumulation—have skyrocketed successful the past 2 months. “The magnitude of BTC acquired successful the past 2 months by this cohort has wholly consumed each of the BTC unloaded by LTHs implicit the past 1.5 years,” helium said. “Incredible.”
This cohort’s assertive accumulation, helium added, has historically preceded bullish squeezes. “Whenever assertive spikes successful 6M+ holders occur, terms usually squeezes pursuing these periods. Short-term bullish,” Edwards remarked. However, helium tempered the optimism by cautioning that broader on-chain information inactive signals fragility. “If the 6M+ holders (Treasury Companies) tin proceed their relentless buying, that should beryllium achievable,” helium noted, signaling that the flywheel has momentum, but is not yet immune to systemic pressure.

Adding different furniture to this processing narrative, Mauricio Di Bartolomeo, Co-founder and CSO astatine Ledn, offered an alternate theory. He suggested that what appears arsenic 2 flows—LTHs selling and Treasury entities buying—might successful information beryllium “the aforesaid trade.” He wrote, “Long word holders [are] selling spot to bargain ETFs/BTC Treasury Cos. Even though that feels unnatural for america bitcoiners.” Di Bartolomeo framed the displacement arsenic generational, pointing retired that galore aboriginal adopters whitethorn simply beryllium much comfy successful accepted fiscal custody alternatively than self-sovereign wallets.
But Edwards pushed backmost connected that explanation, arguing that if ETF migration was driving the reclassification of semipermanent holders, it would beryllium evident crossed aggregate aging cohorts. “I don’t deliberation truthful due to the fact that we would person seen a akin uptrend implicit clip successful the 6M+ and 1Yr+ cohorts if that was the case,” helium replied. “Some is decidedly moving to equities, but it’s precise emblematic of this signifier of the Halving rhythm to spot LTH selling into profit.”
Why Bitcoin ETF Do Not Have A 1:1 Effect On Price
The evident dissonance betwixt rising request and stagnant terms has besides prompted commentary from on-chain expert TXMC, who warned that astir observers misunderstand what really sets Bitcoin’s price. “Bitcoin radical grossly underestimate however small of the proviso is really mounting the terms each hour,” helium wrote. He described Bitcoin’s fragmented marketplace operation arsenic a web of siloed exchanges, loosely synchronized done cross-exchange market-making. “Each determination has its ain liquidity and extent which alteration wildly. A ample marketplace bid tin person an outsized effect depending connected which speech it is placed at, and which clip of day.”
TXMC argued that portion ETFs and organization desks are accumulating ample quantities of Bitcoin, overmuch of this enactment is routed done OTC desks that bypass bid books entirely. “These actions bash not impact the terms successful the aforesaid way,” helium said. “The desks root their ain liquidity, and lone person to spell into the books to capable the difference.”
This mentation whitethorn assistance reconcile wherefore ETF inflows successful the billions of dollars person failed to propulsion BTC importantly higher. Edwards’ thesis aligns with this too, insofar arsenic the ETF roar whitethorn beryllium fueling redistribution alternatively than outright nett demand. TXMC added: “Stop underestimating however galore large entities are retired determination looking for exit liquidity.”
Despite increasing bullishness successful cohort composition, the existent trial lies ahead. Whether firm treasuries and ETF managers tin sorb the remaining exit waves of Bitcoin’s earliest holders remains to beryllium seen. But if Edwards is right, the rotation whitethorn already beryllium past its captious phase.
“The flywheel inactive has a agelong mode to go,” Edwards concluded. And if past is immoderate guide, these moments of consolidation amid redistribution thin to precede volatility—not travel it.
At property time, BTC traded astatine $108,044.
