In the next episode of ‘What’s happening with Bitcoin [BTC]“Mixed signals abound and big players are preparing! Meanwhile, smaller holders are taking a step back as ETF flows move steadily.
None of this is new, but these patterns tend to appear at moments that matter.
What now?
When big money buys…
New data from Santiment showed an interesting division in the market.
Large holders have been buying since mid-December and have added over 56,000 coins during the sideways phase. Usually this means local soils.
At the same time, smaller retail portfolios are starting to make gains, on expectations that the recent move will be a short-lived rally.
Source: Santiment
Markets often move towards large holders. When whales buy, the setup usually looks bullish.
ETFs Provide Huge Support in 2026
Early January alone: daily net inflows for Bitcoin [BTC] ETFs rose by hundreds of millions of dollars, bringing cumulative inflows to nearly $58 billion. Long-term investors use these sideways phases to gain more exposure.
Source: SoSoValue
The interesting point to note here is that this happens without a spike in futures leverage. This reduces the risk of forced liquidations.
If ETF inflows remain strong during flat markets, demand can support higher prices once the pressure subsides.
Where is the price likely to stabilize next?
The recent rally towards $94k takes place during a major redistribution of supply, with large holders checking much less than earlier in the cycle. There is a clear resistance zone between $98,000 and $105,000, where STHs and the 200-day moving average could delay further gains.
Source:
On the other hand, strong support is between $80,000 and $82,000, which is close to the true market average and ETF-driven demand. With profit taking and leverage still low, the price is consolidating… unless these key support levels break.
Final thoughts
- Bitcoin whales added 56,000 BTC, while ETFs pushed inflows to $58 billion.
- Consolidation can precede the next big step.