Large bitcoin holders are accumulating again, with wallets holding at least 10,000 BTC rising to a six-month high of 90, according to Santiment data cited by CoinDesk. The shift comes as smaller wallets shrink amid security concerns and delays around U.S. crypto market-structure legislation.
Large bitcoin holders are accumulating again, with wallets holding at least 10,000 BTC rising to a six-month high of 90, according to Santiment data cited by CoinDesk. The shift comes as smaller wallets shrink amid security concerns and delays around U.S. crypto market-structure legislation.
Santiment described the pattern as a rotation from smaller holders toward larger investors, sometimes referred to as “strong hands.” The analytics firm linked the divergence partly to market uncertainty around a reported Coldcard hardware-wallet exploit that drained roughly $120 million worth of bitcoin, as well as delays to the U.S. Clarity Act, a crypto market-structure bill pushed to September.
Bitcoin’s largest holders are becoming more active on-chain again. According to Santiment data cited by CoinDesk, the number of wallets holding at least 10,000 BTC has climbed to 90, the highest level in six months, after increasing by six wallets over the past eight weeks.
The development matters because it points to a change in where bitcoin supply is being held. CoinDesk reported that wallets holding between 10 and 10,000 BTC have added about $1.5 billion worth of bitcoin since July 29, while smaller “micro” wallets have been declining through August.
Santiment described the pattern as a rotation from smaller holders toward larger investors, sometimes referred to as “strong hands.” The analytics firm linked the divergence partly to market uncertainty around a reported Coldcard hardware-wallet exploit that drained roughly $120 million worth of bitcoin, as well as delays to the U.S. Clarity Act, a crypto market-structure bill pushed to September.
Historically, CoinDesk noted, greater concentration among large holders has often appeared before major price moves. Santiment said the latest rotation raises the odds that bitcoin’s next large move could be to the upside, though the article also cautioned that it remains unclear whether the accumulation marks the start of a recovery or only a temporary pause.
Bitcoin was trading near $63,800 at the time of CoinDesk’s report. For market watchers, the key signal is not a guaranteed price direction, but a visible shift in on-chain behavior: larger wallets are adding exposure while smaller holders are stepping back.
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