TL;DR:
- Bitcoin whales holding 100 to 1,000 BTC added 113,950 BTC since July 15, lifting their combined holdings to roughly 5.24 million BTC.
- U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted almost $1 billion on Monday, showing Wall Street capital is contributing materially to the latest rally.
- Bitcoin cleared its 365-day moving average near $80,500, while the $88,000 to $90,000 supply zone now stands as the next major resistance test for the market ahead.
Bitcoin whales are increasing their exposure as BTC holds near $84,000 after briefly touching $87,000 earlier this week. In a Santiment update, wallets holding between 100 and 1,000 BTC were shown adding 113,950 BTC since July 15, lifting their combined holdings by 2.22% to roughly 5.24 million BTC. The accumulation suggests larger holders bought the dip and kept adding as Bitcoin recovered, extending a pattern that had previously left whale activity unusually quiet before the latest breakout. Santiment tracks whales.
🐳 Bitcoin’s 100-1,000 $BTC wallets are accumulating fast. Since July 15, they’ve added 113,950 BTC, growing their collective holdings by 2.22% to roughly 5.24M BTC.
🧠 This wallet tier has historically been one of Bitcoin’s most useful smart money groups to watch. Santiment’s… pic.twitter.com/tCntKfdPQg
— Santiment Intelligence (@SantimentData) September 23, 2026
Whale Buying and ETF Demand Strengthen Bitcoin’s Rally
Bitcoin’s recovery has also pushed the asset back above its 365-day moving average near $80,500, a level it had not reclaimed in this manner since March 2023. The price has moved through a heavy supply zone between $76,000 and $81,000, while the next area traders are watching sits around $88,000 to $90,000. Whale buying into strength gives the rebound more support than a rally driven only by retail demand, although large unrealized gains can eventually create sell-side pressure from newer whales if momentum weakens. The concentration of BTC in the next resistance area makes it an important test for the durability of the advance.
Wall Street has become another major force behind the move. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted almost $1 billion on Monday, followed by smaller inflows during the next two trading sessions. The fresh capital suggests traditional financial channels are contributing materially to Bitcoin’s advance rather than simply following it. That flow complements the broader return of institutional demand that has accompanied Bitcoin’s recovery, while short covering also helped accelerate the initial move higher. The rebound has persisted despite elevated yields, expensive oil and a recent rate increase, complicating the usual risk-on interpretation.
The balance between whale accumulation and ETF demand now becomes central to whether the rally can extend. The current cycle may also be less explosive than earlier Bitcoin booms as a larger market and growing institutional participation reduce extreme price swings. If large holders continue accumulating while ETF inflows remain persistent, Bitcoin could build a stronger base for another push higher. But a rally dependent too heavily on ETFs would remain vulnerable if those inflows fade and positioning normalizes. Recent corporate Bitcoin accumulation adds another layer of demand, leaving the $88,000 to $90,000 zone as the next major test for the market.
