Binance Faces Wholecoiner Exodus as Bitcoin Volatility Tests $90K Support
The cryptocurrency market experienced significant turbulence in mid-December 2025, with Bitcoin's attempted recovery faltering amid renewed volatility. As prices retreated below the psychologically important $90,000 level, a notable shift occurred among large-scale investors on major exchanges. Binance, the global cryptocurrency exchange leader, reported declining inflows from wholecoiners—investors holding at least one full Bitcoin—as market uncertainty prompted strategic repositioning. This development highlights how institutional and substantial retail investors are responding to price fluctuations by adjusting their exchange deposit behavior, potentially signaling changing sentiment about near-term market direction. The retreat of wholecoiners from active trading platforms like Binance suggests these key market participants may be adopting more cautious approaches, either moving assets to cold storage or awaiting clearer signals before committing additional capital. This movement comes at a crucial technical juncture for Bitcoin, which has struggled to maintain momentum above key resistance levels despite intermittent bullish periods. Market analysts are closely watching whether this represents temporary profit-taking or the beginning of a more sustained defensive posture among Bitcoin's most committed holders.
Bitcoin Wholecoin Holders Retreat as Binance Inflows Decline Amid Market Volatility
Bitcoin's brief recovery last week was swiftly undermined by escalating volatility across the cryptocurrency market, driving prices back below the critical $90,000 threshold. This fluctuation has prompted a shift in investor sentiment, particularly among large holders on major exchanges.
Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange, is witnessing a notable drop in inflows from wholecoiners—investors transacting in increments of 1 BTC or more. Analytics from CryptoQuant reveal yearly average inflows have dwindled to approximately 6,500 BTC, a level unseen since 2018. Weekly averages have dipped further to 5,200 BTC, marking one of the cycle's lowest readings.
The decline in wholecoiner activity suggests reduced selling pressure but also signals caution among high-net-worth participants. This trend mirrors broader market uncertainty as Bitcoin struggles to maintain momentum amid macroeconomic headwinds.
Bitcoin Tests Critical $81K Support as Analysts Eye Potential Reversal to $100K
Bitcoin's price teeters NEAR a pivotal two-year support level at $81,000, with today's 3.6% decline triggering nearly $400 million in liquidations. Glassnode data identifies this threshold as the True Market Mean—the average on-chain acquisition price for active holders—a level unchallenged since October 2023.
Analysts observe a potential low-sweep scenario brewing, where a brief dip below $80,000 could catalyze a rebound toward six figures. The thesis gains credence from collapsing BTC inflows to Binance, with 'wholecoiner' transactions (1+ BTC) averaging just 6,500 annually—a metric last seen during 2018's bear market depths.
