Whales Absorb Cryptocurrency Supply During Market Weakness as Bottoming Indicators Multiply

Smart Money Accumulation During Market Decline

Major cryptocurrency holders are actively building positions during current market weakness, a pattern historically associated with the final stages of bear markets, according to blockchain analytics firm CryptoQuant. The company’s latest Smart Money report indicates that large investors are absorbing available supply, potentially reducing future selling pressure and concentrating ownership among institutional holders.

Bitcoin whale wallets—excluding exchange and mining pool addresses—have grown substantially. These holdings increased from 2.87 million BTC in December 2025 to approximately 3.06 million BTC, with the pace of accumulation notably accelerating after Bitcoin’s price declined below $60,000 in June. This buying during weakness represents a classic smart-money strategy that has historically preceded major market bottoms, according to CryptoQuant.

Ethereum and XRP Join the Accumulation Trend

Ether’s whale holders are signaling confidence through similar accumulation strategies. Ethereum wallets holding between 10,000 and 100,000 ETH have collectively reached record holdings of 19.6 million ETH. Additionally, ultra-large wallets holding more than 100,000 ETH have added approximately 1.8 million ETH since the middle of 2025, demonstrating sustained institutional interest at multiple holding tiers.

In XRP markets, activity patterns reveal a nuanced dynamic. Average spot order sizes have remained within CryptoQuant’s “big whale” classification as the token has traded between $1 and $1.20. However, the neutral 90-day taker cumulative volume delta suggests these large holders are absorbing supply passively rather than pursuing aggressive accumulation strategies, indicating a more measured positioning approach than their Bitcoin and Ethereum counterparts.

Realized Price Metrics Signal Bottoming Phase

CryptoQuant’s analysis of realized price—an onchain metric measuring the market’s average cost basis—provides additional evidence that a market bottom may be approaching. Bitcoin currently trades above its realized price of $52,900, suggesting room for recovery. Ethereum presents a different picture, trading below its realized price of approximately $2,450, indicating that recent whale accumulation may be occurring at particularly attractive levels.

XRP’s valuation structure similarly suggests potential opportunity. The token has traded near $1.10 against a realized price of roughly $0.75, indicating that whale absorption may be occurring significantly above the average holder’s cost basis. CryptoQuant emphasized that rising whale balances during price weakness represent “the clearest smart-money tell,” though the firm cautioned that further downside remains possible. Other research supports similar conclusions; 10x Research suggested Bitcoin could confirm a bear-market bottom with a monthly close above $63,000, while K33 analysis indicates cycle lows historically occur within weeks after more than half of Bitcoin’s circulating supply is held at a loss. Smart money accumulation of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP during weakness may signal that the market is nearing a critical turning point for digital assets across the board.

Source: CryptoQuant, via Cointelegraph. Not financial advice.