Crypto Data Reveals Short-Term Investors Are Dumping Bitcoin – Here’s Why
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BTC $ 84,513.62 (-0.11%)

Bitcoin price has slightly recovered after a recent two-week sell-off.
Short-term holders and smaller wallets are selling more Bitcoin than long-term holders and whales.
Despite short-term volatility, long-term holders and whales remain confident, suggesting a potential future rebound.
Bitcoin has been under noticeable selling pressure over the past two weeks. Between April 5 and April 8 alone, the leading cryptocurrency dropped by over 9.01%. As of now, BTC is trading just 2.48% higher than where it started at the beginning of the month. But whatโs really driving this dip?
According to on-chain data from CryptoQuant, the primary culprits are short-term holders and smaller wallet groups. Here’s what the data reveals.
Short-Term Holders Are Leading the Sell-Off
A comparative analysis of exchange activity shows a significant gap between short-term and long-term holders. Short-term holders are sending at least 401 more BTC to exchanges daily than their long-term counterparts.
CryptoQuant data indicates that short-term holders offload around 930 BTC to exchanges each day, while long-term holders move only 529 BTC. This suggests that long-term investors remain more confident about Bitcoinโs future, despite recent volatility.
Wallet Cohorts Breakdown: Who Is Selling the Most?
Another layer of analysis breaks down Bitcoin holders into five wallet-size categories: Shrimps, Crabs, Fish, Sharks, and Whales. It turns out the smaller players are showing more concern about BTCโs trajectory compared to the largest investors.
Hereโs the breakdown of daily exchange inflows by wallet size:
- Shrimps (<1 BTC): ~480 BTC
- Crabs (1โ10 BTC): ~102 BTC
- Fish (10โ100 BTC): ~341 BTC
- Sharks (100โ1,000 BTC): ~402 BTC
- Whales (>1,000 BTC): ~70 BTC
This behavior highlights a striking trendโwhile smaller investors are selling off, whales remain largely unfazed. Their minimal activity suggests strong long-term confidence in Bitcoin’s future.
Is This a Classic Shackout Before the Next Rally?
This selling trend among short-term holders and small wallets appears to be a temporary wave of panic selling before a potential recovery. Whales and long-term holders are not panicking. This suggests that smart money sees strength in the bigger picture. Historically, such shackouts have often preceded strong bullish rebounds in the Bitcoin market.
Despite recent pressure, the Bitcoin market has posted gains of 3.1% over the past week, with a 0.7% increase in the last 24 hours alone. This recovery, although modest, suggests that the worst of the recent dip may be behind us.
Bitcoin Range-Bound but Stable
Since April 12, Bitcoin has been trading within a tight range between $82,711.41 and $86,460.73. At the time of writing, BTC sits at $84,412.
In the near term, volatility may persist as smaller investors continue reacting to uncertainty. However, the lack of significant selling pressure from whales and long-term holders points to underlying market strength. If history is any guide, the current dip could be setting the stage for Bitcoinโs next move upward.ย
The market may be shaky, but conviction among big players hasnโt crackedโmaybe thatโs what matters most.
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FAQs
Bitcoin faced steady selling pressure from short-term holders, driving a 9.01% drop between April 5 and 8.
As per Coinpediaโs BTC price prediction, 1 BTC could peak at $168k this year if the bullish sentiment sustains.
With increased adoption, the price of 1 Bitcoin could reach a height of $901,383.47 in 2030.
As per our latest BTC price analysis, Bitcoin could reach a maximum price of $13,532,059.98