Bitcoin Wealth Gap Widens as Institutional Investors Dominate Supply
The distribution of Bitcoin is increasingly favoring institutional and high-net-worth holders, challenging its decentralized principles. Retail wallets with less than 10 BTC now hold only 17.5% of the circulating supply, amounting to 3.47 million coins valued at $358 billion. The smallest holders, those with under 1 BTC, control less than 7% of the network. According to Santiment’s blockchain data, this concentration is accelerating, with the current BTC price standing at 102,130.63 USDT as of May 15, 2025.
Retail Bitcoin Holdings Shrink as Wealthy Entities Accumulate Supply
Bitcoin’s distribution is skewing sharply toward institutional and high-net-worth holders, undermining its decentralized ethos. Retail wallets holding less than 10 BTC now control just 17.5% of circulating supply—a mere 3.47 million coins worth $358 billion. The smallest participants fare worst: addresses with under 1 BTC claim less than 7% of the network.
Santiment’s blockchain data reveals accelerating concentration among whales. While Bitcoin was conceived as democratic money, its ownership increasingly mirrors traditional finance hierarchies. This consolidation coincides with Wall Street’s embrace of spot ETFs and corporate treasury allocations.
Bitcoin Whale Wallets Decline as Market Nears Key Resistance
Bitcoin’s holder base shows signs of fragmentation as 5,000 wallets holding at least 1BTC dissolved over two months. The attrition, flagged by analyst Ali (@ali_charts), suggests weakening conviction among smaller whales despite BTC’s 25% quarterly gain.
The cryptocurrency now faces a technical inflection point, oscillating near $103K after weeks of bullish momentum. Resistance at $106K and support between $94K-$95K form the battle lines for the next directional move. A weekly close above $103K could validate the bull case for $109K targets.
Market volatility remains elevated as traders weigh conflicting signals - dwindling whale participation against strong technical positioning. The divergence mirrors 2021’s Q4 dynamics, when similar holder distribution shifts preceded major trend reversals.
Ledn Reports Explosive Growth in Bitcoin-Backed Loans
Ledn, a cryptocurrency lending platform, has seen demand for its Bitcoin-backed loans surge to unprecedented levels. Co-founder Mauricio Di Bartolomeo revealed the company originated $304 million in BTC-collateralized loans last quarter—triple its peak 2021 volume and multiples of 2024 figures.
The executive described this as the fastest acceleration in demand since Ledn’s 2018 launch. While retail users dominate the client base, institutional interest is growing. Notably, high-net-worth individuals holding substantial bitcoin positions are increasingly using loans to unlock liquidity without selling their crypto assets.
Altcoin Season Incoming: Key Indicators Point to June Breakout
The crypto market is entering a new phase, with mounting evidence suggesting an impending Altcoin Season set to accelerate in June. Historical patterns, technical indicators, and shifting market dynamics converge to signal heightened altcoin performance.
Analysis by Joao Wedson reveals 31 of 57 altcoins have outpaced Bitcoin over the past two months—a critical threshold for identifying early-stage altcoin rallies. The Altcoin Season Index stands at 25/100, indicating substantial growth potential before reaching overheated territory.
Bitcoin’s dominance has climbed, creating conditions where capital could rotate into alternative cryptocurrencies. Market participants are watching for confirmation of this trend through sustained altcoin outperformance and increased trading volumes across major exchanges.
Coinbase Resists $20M Bitcoin Ransom Demand Following Insider-Led Data Breach
Coinbase disclosed a data breach impacting fewer than 1% of its monthly active users, revealing that attackers demanded a $20 million Bitcoin ransom. CEO Brian Armstrong confirmed the extortion attempt after threat actors compromised sensitive customer data through bribed overseas support staff.
The breach involved leaked names, contact details, and masked financial information—though login credentials and private keys remained secure. Social engineering tactics were employed after insiders provided access to internal systems, enabling impersonation of Coinbase employees.
