U.S. Institutions Double Down on Bitcoin as Government Clings to Holdings – The Great Accumulation Accelerates
Wall Street’s quiet crypto coup is underway—while DC hoards like digital dragons.
The institutional FOMO playbook
BlackRock’s ETF inflows aren’t slowing down. MicroStrategy just mortgaged another office park. Even pension funds are dipping toes in—because 2% bond yields hurt more than volatility.
The HODL paradox
Meanwhile, the U.S. government sits on seized Bitcoin like Smaug on gold—refusing to sell even as Wall Street bids. Somewhere, a libertarian is screaming into a Constitution.
When Jamie Dimon and Satoshi worshippers agree on accumulation, maybe listen. Or keep shorting—we need the liquidity.
For over 1,700 hours, Bitcoin (BTC USD) accumulation has quietly intensified; not through price action, but through deep on-chain signals.
The Coinbase Premium Gap, a key measure of U.S. spot demand, has held positive for 73 straight days, indicating that institutions are still actively buying on U.S.-regulated venues.
Backed by persistent exchange outflows, flat funding rates, and dormant government-held BTC, the data suggests a structurally bullish base, even as broader sentiment cools.
Coinbase Premium Gap Reveals Institutional Bitcoin (BTC USD) Accumulation
The Coinbase Premium Gap (30HMA): a 30-hour moving average that tracks the price difference between Coinbase and global exchanges, has remained positive for 73 days.
This suggests persistent institutional spot buying on Coinbase, where U.S.-regulated entities often trade.
Such sustained premium streaks are rare; the last time it extended this long was during the ETF inflow wave in January 2025.
A positive premium means that bitcoin is being bought more aggressively on Coinbase, often a proxy for American institutional demand. This signal becomes even stronger when paired with exchange flow data.
Net Outflows From Coinbase Point to Long-Term Custody
Coinbase has seen a steady pattern of Bitcoin withdrawals through 2024 and into mid-2025. The repeated red bars suggest more Bitcoin (BTC USD) is moving out than coming in.
This behavior typically signals accumulation, as users withdraw assets for long-term storage rather than short-term trading.
The outflows align with the positive Coinbase Premium Gap, reinforcing the narrative that institutional players are buying on regulated venues and moving Bitcoin (BTC USD) into custody wallets.
In a post-halving environment with constrained new supply, this steady withdrawal pattern supports a long-term bullish thesis, not through hype, but through quiet, deliberate accumulation.
Bitcoin (BTC USD) Open Interest Rises As Funding Rates Stay Flat
Bitcoin open interest has climbed to nearly $35 billion, approaching its all-time highs, a clear sign of increased positioning in the derivatives market.
However, what’s more telling is that funding rates remain flat, even as price consolidates above $1,00,000.
The rise in open interest without a spike in funding rates shows this isn’t a retail-driven craze. It looks more like careful positioning: the kind of quiet buildup you’d expect from institutions, not gamblers chasing pumps.
The steady OI with neutral funding supports the spot accumulation story: demand is rising, but without fragility.
U.S. Government Holdings Add a Layer of Supply Stability
According to on-chain wallet data, the U.S. Government currently holds over 215,000 BTC from past seizures; roughly 1% of the total supply. More importantly, 97% of it remains untouched in wallets, with no major sell events in recent months.
Even though holdings like these have historically introduced liquidation risk, the lack of recent activity suggests a stable macro scene.
With ETF inflows paused and halving supply limits in place, this dormancy acts as a backstop rather than a threat.
It’s one more pillar supporting the ongoing Bitcoin accumulation thesis, not through flashy buying, but through reduced selling.
Bitcoin (BTC USD) accumulation is showing up in the data, not just the headlines. Institutions are buying, selling pressure is low, and the setup for Q3 looks quietly bullish.
