Bitcoin’s Strategic Pause: Whale Deposits Slow as $100K Beckons

In January 2026, bitcoin whale activity on Binance has experienced a significant deceleration, with deposits plummeting 42.5% compared to December. This strategic slowdown among large holders comes even as Bitcoin's price rebounds above $97,000, suggesting a potential consolidation phase before a push toward the $100,000 milestone. The data reveals a nuanced market dynamic where tempered selling pressure from major players may be setting the stage for the next major price movement.

Whale Deposits to Binance Slow in January as Bitcoin Tests $100K

Bitcoin whale activity on Binance has decelerated sharply in January, with just 15,800 BTC deposited so far—a 42.5% drop from December’s 37,133 BTC inflows. The slowdown suggests a strategic pause among large holders despite BTC’s rebound above $97,000 this week.

Mean deposit sizes remain elevated at 20+ BTC, with whales accounting for 20.85% of total inflows. The tempered selling pressure coincides with Bitcoin’s consolidation NEAR $95,449.56, as traders await a decisive break past $100,000.

Market observers interpret the lull as a wait-and-see stance rather than bearish sentiment. Notably, the recent price uptick hasn’t triggered mass liquidations—a potential sign of accumulation beneath key resistance levels.

Bitcoin Defies Bearish Sentiment to Surge Past $96,000

Bitcoin has breached the $95,000 threshold, trading 1.82% higher than 24 hours ago, as market dynamics diverge from retail sentiment. Social media platforms are awash with fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD), marking the most bearish chatter in ten days. Santiment data suggests this contrarian signal could propel Bitcoin toward $100,000 for the first time since November.

The cryptocurrency spent much of late December trapped below $90,000 amid extreme fear sentiment. A brief shift to neutral territory in early January pushed prices above $93,000 before bulls regained momentum this week. Wednesday's rally saw Bitcoin touch $97,500 - a two-month high - as institutional buying pressure overwhelmed retail skepticism.

Santiment's behavioral analytics reveal an inverse correlation between price and sentiment. When Bitcoin traded in the mid-$80,000 range thirty days ago, social media commentary reflected peak fear. The current disconnect between price action and public perception mirrors classic bull market psychology, where skepticism often accompanies major breakouts.

ARK Invest's Flagship Funds Hit by Coinbase Slump in Volatile Crypto Quarter

Coinbase became the worst performer in ARK Invest's innovation-focused ETFs during Q4 2025, dragging down Cathie Wood's flagship funds amid a brutal cryptocurrency market downturn. The exchange's shares tumbled alongside a 9% quarterly decline in spot trading volumes, despite showcasing ambitious long-term product plans including on-chain equities and AI-powered advisory services.

The crypto sector faced extreme volatility following an October liquidation event that erased $21 billion in Leveraged positions. ARK's portfolios suffered additional pressure from Roblox, which faced margin pressures despite strong bookings growth, compounded by Russia's ban that removed 8% of daily active users.

Market turbulence exposed the fragility of crypto-correlated assets during periods of deleveraging, with centralized exchanges bearing the brunt of declining trading activity. The quarter's performance highlights the challenges of maintaining growth trajectories amid regulatory uncertainties and macroeconomic headwinds.

Bitcoin Faces Resistance at $97,000: Can It Hit $100k By Jan. 20?

Bitcoin briefly reclaimed the $97,000 price level earlier today, marking its first return to this threshold since mid-November 2025. The cryptocurrency has shown steady gains, with a 0.3% increase over the last 24 hours, 5.5% over the past week, and 11.5% over the last month. Market participants are now questioning whether this momentum could propel BTC past the psychological $100,000 barrier by January 20.

Despite the recent uptick, Bitcoin remains far from its October 2025 all-time high of $126,080. Macroeconomic uncertainties have weighed heavily on the crypto market, with $97,000 emerging as a critical resistance level. A decisive break above this point could pave the way for a retest of $100,000.

Analysts at CoinCodex project a continued rally but anticipate the $100,000 milestone won't be reached until February 1. Institutional players like Bernstein and Grayscale maintain a bullish long-term outlook, suggesting Bitcoin is following a five-year cycle rather than the traditional four-year pattern.

Silver Plummets 7.3% After Record High, Bitcoin Holds Steady Amid ETF Inflows

Silver prices tumbled 7.3% on Thursday, erasing gains from a four-day rally that had pushed the metal to an all-time high of $93.7515. The sudden drop followed a 20% surge earlier in the week, leaving traders questioning whether the rally had overheated.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin demonstrated resilience, maintaining its position near $97,000 as spot ETFs recorded $844 million of inflows on January 14. The cryptocurrency's stability contrasted with broader precious metals weakness, as gold slipped 0.7% while platinum and palladium fell more than 2%.

Crypto Sentiment Shifts to Greed as Bitcoin Rebounds

Investor sentiment in cryptocurrency markets has swung back into greed territory for the first time since October's market turmoil. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index registered 61 on Thursday, crossing the threshold from neutral just a day prior. This marks a significant psychological shift after months of anxiety following October's $19 billion liquidation event.

Bitcoin's price action mirrors the improving mood, climbing from $89,750 to a two-month high of $97,720 within seven days. The rally appears more sustainable than November's brief spike to similar levels, when weak fundamentals undermined price gains. Market analysts attribute the rapid sentiment improvement to this sustained upward movement.

The index's methodology incorporates multiple data points including trading volumes, social media activity, and search trends. While the current reading doesn't indicate market euphoria, it demonstrates growing trader confidence after a prolonged period of caution. The crypto market's resilience continues to surprise observers following last year's extended downturn.