Bitcoin Whales Unwind Leveraged Longs: Historical Precursor to Major Bull Run Emerges

Recent on-chain data from major cryptocurrency exchanges reveals a significant shift in behavior among Bitcoin's largest holders, known as 'whales.' These entities are systematically exiting their Leveraged long positions, a tactical move that historical data consistently shows precedes substantial price rallies. According to metrics from Bitfinex and Bitstamp, aggregated long positions held by whales recently peaked at approximately 73,000 BTC before beginning a notable decline. This specific pattern of unwinding leverage has been observed as a reliable leading indicator before past major bullish breakouts in Bitcoin's price history. Market analysts are interpreting this current activity as a strongly bullish signal for the medium to long term. Some have even revised their price targets upward, with projections now reaching as high as $135,000 per Bitcoin. The present behavior closely mirrors a similar pattern observed in January 2025, which itself was followed by a significant upward price movement. This strategic deleveraging by whales is seen as a move to strengthen their position and increase buying power, reducing systemic risk from excessive leverage in the market. By closing out leveraged bets, these large players appear to be preparing their balance sheets for a new phase of accumulation or to withstand potential volatility before a sustained upward trend. This development underscores the sophisticated, data-driven strategies employed by institutional and large-scale investors in the digital asset space. It highlights how on-chain analytics and derivatives market data have become critical tools for gauging market sentiment and predicting potential trend reversals. For retail and institutional investors alike, this whale activity serves as a key data point suggesting that, despite short-term price fluctuations, the foundational market structure may be aligning for a significant bullish phase in the near future.

Bitcoin Whales Exit Leveraged Longs in Move That Historically Precedes Bull Runs

Exchange data reveals Bitcoin whales are unwinding leveraged long positions, a behavior that has consistently preceded major BTC price rallies. Bitfinex and Bitstamp metrics show long positions peaking at 73,000 BTC before declining—a pattern observed before past breakouts.

Analysts interpret this as a bullish signal, with price targets as high as $135,000. The current whale activity mirrors January 2025, when bitcoin surged from $74,000 to $112,000 in 43 days. Market observers now anticipate a Wyckoff Spring formation, typically followed by aggressive upside.

Bitcoin Holds $90K Amid ETF Outflows as Market Awaits Catalyst

Bitcoin trades flat NEAR $90,700, masking underlying tension as institutional demand falters. The cryptocurrency’s 24-hour trading volume of $12.18 billion and $1.81 trillion market cap belie a narrowing price range—the tightest this year. Market breadth remains weak, with total crypto capitalization stagnant at $3.1 trillion and daily volumes cooling to $44.4 billion.

The Fear and Greed Index at 40 reflects investor ambivalence, while the Altcoin Season Index’s 34/100 reading confirms this remains a Bitcoin-centric rally. Dominance metrics show capital favoring blue-chip crypto assets over speculative bets.

ETF outflows totaling $343.8 million on January 9 reveal institutional hesitation. These withdrawals undermine the ETF-driven momentum that fueled recent gains, leaving Bitcoin dependent on spot demand and technical patterns. The resulting consolidation forms a coiling triangle on charts—a classic prelude to volatility.

Bitcoin Bulls Alert: Samson Mow Forecasts Elon Musk’s Billion-Dollar BTC Entry

Samson Mow, founder of Bitcoin infrastructure firm JAN3, predicts Elon Musk will aggressively invest in Bitcoin by 2026. The projection, shared on social media, includes a bold price target of $1.33 million per BTC—a 1,360% surge from current levels near $90,590. Market analysts are scrutinizing the implications for institutional investors, miners, and corporate treasuries.

Mow’s forecast hinges on macroeconomic trends and high-profile adoption, citing MicroStrategy’s potential rise to $5,000 per share. While the statement reflects speculative optimism, it underscores Bitcoin’s growing influence in global finance. Musk’s past Bitcoin endorsements have historically moved markets, amplifying the weight of such predictions.

The crypto community is divided on the timeline but agrees on Bitcoin’s long-term dominance over traditional assets like metals. Institutional interest, exemplified by Tesla’s prior BTC holdings, remains a key driver for price appreciation.

Satoshi-Era Bitcoin Miner Moves 2,000 BTC After Years of Inactivity

Bitcoin's price stability around $90,000 this weekend was interrupted by an unexpected on-chain event. A miner from the Satoshi era—the 2009-2011 period when Bitcoin's creator was still active—transferred 2,000 BTC for the first time since November 2024.

Historical data shows such movements often precede market inflection points. The coins were mined when Bitcoin could still be extracted with consumer CPUs, making their sudden liquidity event noteworthy for long-term holders.

Bitcoin Mining Difficulty Eases in First 2026 Adjustment

Bitcoin's mining difficulty slipped to 146 trillion in its first recalibration of 2026, offering marginal relief for miners grappling with post-halving economics. The 2% dip from December 2025 levels reflects faster block times—averaging 9.88 minutes versus Bitcoin's 10-minute target—a fleeting reprieve in an otherwise relentless climb.

Miners face structural pressures: the 2024 halving slashed block rewards while 2025's hardware arms race drove efficiency demands. With hash price stagnation and energy costs lingering near all-time highs, even this modest difficulty reduction barely moves the needle on profitability.

The algorithm's next adjustment on January 22 is projected to reverse course, pushing difficulty toward 148 trillion as network participation stabilizes. This pendulum swing underscores Bitcoin's self-correcting design—where temporary breathers inevitably yield to renewed competition.

Bitcoin Holds Key Support as Traders Eye $100K Amid Shifting Momentum

Bitcoin's price action in early 2026 reflects a market recalibration. The cryptocurrency has maintained its position above critical support levels, with liquidation waves removing over-leveraged positions—a classic reset preceding potential upward momentum.

Exchange data reveals these moves stem from forced position closures rather than new capital inflows. Macro factors loom large: interest rate speculation, equity market sentiment, and ETF flows remain pivotal to BTC's trajectory.

The $90K consolidation zone now serves as a battleground. A breakout could fuel the $100K narrative, while failure risks a retreat to $80K-$88K. Meanwhile, adoption catalysts emerge—notably a payments-focused blockchain solution gaining traction globally.