Tag: Whales

  • Bitcoin ETFs See $107M Inflows, XRP Whales Accumulate 70M Tokens, and Flex Raises $70M: Crypto News Roundup

    Bitcoin ETFs See $107M Inflows, XRP Whales Accumulate 70M Tokens, and Flex Raises $70M: Crypto News Roundup

    The crypto market saw several key developments today, with Bitcoin spot ETFs recording significant inflows, XRP whales making a major purchase, and stablecoin banking platform Flex closing a substantial funding round. Here’s a detailed look at the latest crypto news.

    Bitcoin Spot ETFs See $107.80 Million in Net Inflows

    According to data from SoSoValue, Bitcoin spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) recorded a total net inflow of $107.80 million yesterday. BlackRock’s IBIT led the pack with a daily net inflow of $80.82 million, bringing its historical total to $60.32 billion. Fidelity’s FBTC followed with a net inflow of $16.94 million, accumulating a historical net inflow of $9.94 billion.

    The total net asset value of Bitcoin spot ETFs now stands at $78.47 billion, with an ETF net asset ratio of 6.02%. The historical cumulative net inflow has reached $51.14 billion.

    XRP Whales Scoop Up 70 Million Tokens

    XRP whale wallets holding at least 1 million tokens have been actively accumulating over the past seven days, despite a sell-off from U.S. spot ETF issuers. Between July 9 and July 15, these whales purchased 70 million XRP tokens, according to data from Santiment shared by analyst Ali Martinez on July 16.

    At press time, the purchased XRP was valued at over $77 million. XRP whales now hold approximately 3.8 billion tokens, worth about $4.18 billion. This accumulation comes amid rising bullish sentiment, with technical analysis suggesting XRP could be forming an inverse head and shoulders pattern, a potential reversal indicator.

    Volvo Group Tests Proprietary Cryptocurrency

    Volvo Group has tested a proprietary cryptocurrency as part of an internal blockchain project aimed at simplifying transactions with its suppliers. Ivan Branco, Head of Information Management, AI and Analytics at Volvo Group, discussed the project in a recent interview with the Cardano Foundation.

    The experiment focused on a closed blockchain environment connecting Volvo with material and transport suppliers, rather than creating a publicly traded cryptocurrency. Branco explained that Volvo explored whether blockchain could create a shared transaction system for its supply chain partners.

    Flex Raises $70 Million for Stablecoin Banking Expansion

    California-based fintech company Flex raised $70 million in a Series B1 funding round led by Halo Fund, according to Forbes. The company plans to use the funds to expand its stablecoin-based cross-border banking platform, Flex Global, which offers multi-currency accounts supporting 32 currencies across 170 countries and regions.

    Flex’s core customers have annual revenues ranging from $3 million to $200 million and are primarily concentrated in the construction, wholesale, and import/export industries.

    CoinGecko Q2 2026 Report: Market Cap Declines

    CoinGecko’s Q2 2026 Crypto Market Report revealed that the total cryptocurrency market capitalization declined by 12.6% in the quarter, reaching $2.1 trillion by the end of June. The stablecoin market capitalization fell by 1.6% to $30.51 billion, marking the first quarterly decline since Q3 2023.

    Nominal trading volume is projected to rise 48.7% quarter-on-quarter to $113.8 billion. However, centralized exchange (CEX) spot trading volume dropped 27.9% to $1.95 trillion, hitting a monthly low of $620 billion in May. CEX perpetual contract trading volume also declined 10.0% quarter-on-quarter to $12.7 trillion.

  • Bitcoin Volatility Spikes: 9 Key Factors Driving the Renewed Price Swings

    Bitcoin Volatility Spikes: 9 Key Factors Driving the Renewed Price Swings

    Bitcoin volatility is on the rise again, with prices swinging more sharply than in recent months. Traders and investors are watching closely as a combination of institutional moves, macroeconomic shifts, and market mechanics create repeated bouts of turbulence. Below are the nine primary drivers behind Bitcoin’s renewed price instability.

    • Institutional Trading: Large institutional investors deploy significant capital in a short time, causing rapid price swings as major buy or sell orders affect market liquidity on exchanges.
    • Macroeconomic Uncertainty: Interest rates, inflation data, and global economic concerns influence investor sentiment, increasing Bitcoin’s price fluctuations across financial markets worldwide.
    • Leveraged Trading: High leverage in crypto futures amplifies both gains and losses, triggering cascading liquidations that accelerate short-term Bitcoin price volatility during market moves.
    • ETF Fund Flows: Inflows and outflows from Bitcoin ETFs create buying and selling pressure, contributing to sudden price movements and heightened daily volatility.
    • Regulatory Developments: Government regulations, policy announcements, and legal actions affect investor confidence, often leading to sharp Bitcoin price reactions across global markets.
    • Whale Activity: Large Bitcoin holders buying or selling substantial amounts can significantly influence market prices, creating sudden volatility on cryptocurrency exchanges.
    • Market Sentiment: Fear, optimism, and speculative trading quickly shift investor behavior, causing rapid Bitcoin price changes during uncertain market conditions.
    • Global News Events: Geopolitical tensions, financial crises, and major economic announcements increase risk sentiment, often resulting in stronger Bitcoin market volatility.
    • Lower Market Liquidity: Reduced trading liquidity during certain periods allows relatively smaller trades to create larger Bitcoin price movements and wider market fluctuations.

    Understanding these factors can help investors navigate the current environment of heightened volatility. As the crypto market matures, such price swings are likely to remain a key characteristic of Bitcoin trading.

  • Can Bitcoin Whales Offset Record $4.06 Billion ETF Outflows to Prevent Further Price Drops?

    Can Bitcoin Whales Offset Record $4.06 Billion ETF Outflows to Prevent Further Price Drops?

    Bitcoin is at a critical juncture as large holders, known as whales, try to fill the gap left by weakening institutional demand. After U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded heavy redemptions totaling $4.06 billion, the market is watching whether whale activity near the $60,000 level can stabilize prices.

    ETF Outflows Weigh on Bitcoin Demand

    U.S. spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs have experienced seven consecutive days of net outflows. Bitcoin funds alone lost approximately $445 million in a single session, while Ethereum products saw about $12.85 million in withdrawals. Last week marked the largest weekly outflow on record for Bitcoin ETFs, with losses exceeding $1.79 billion. This selling pressure has spread across several major funds as investors reduce crypto exposure.

    Previously, ETF demand absorbed Bitcoin supply during market corrections. With that support fading, the market now depends more on whales, long-term holders, and retail buyers. However, renewed institutional inflows could provide stronger price support, but current flows indicate that demand has not recovered yet.

    Bitcoin’s Coinbase Premium remains weak, and apparent demand has stayed negative for 208 consecutive days, recently falling to about negative 273,000 BTC. This suggests that new buying has struggled to absorb available supply.

    Whale Transactions Surge Around $60,000

    Large Bitcoin holders became more active as the price tested levels below $60,000. The network recorded 6,920 transactions worth more than $100,000 and 1,438 transfers above $1 million. This was the second-largest spike in whale activity in two months.

    The increase indicates that some large holders viewed the decline as a possible accumulation window. However, transaction volume does not confirm that every whale transfer involved buying; some movements may include sales, exchange deposits, or wallet transfers.

    Bitcoin later rebounded toward $60,000, but momentum remained weak. The relative strength index (RSI) stayed near oversold levels, while the MACD showed that buyers had not regained control. Therefore, the rebound remains “unconfirmed” without stronger spot demand and better ETF flows.

    Traders are now watching $57,000 as a potential liquidation zone. A break below that level could expose Bitcoin to $54,000, near a key realized price level, testing whether whales will absorb more selling.

    Long-Term Holders Begin Realizing Losses

    Long-term holders are also reacting to the decline. The monthly average for the Long-Term Holder SOPR (Spent Output Profit Ratio) fell from 1.03 to 0.8, showing that some older investors sold Bitcoin at a loss—indicating losses of about 13% over the past month.

    The yearly average also declined from 2.06 to 1.46, meaning realized profits among long-term holders have narrowed as Bitcoin trades well below its recent high near $82,803.

    Selling by older holders can add pressure in the short term. However, the data suggest that weaker sellers are reducing exposure near current levels, which may reduce future selling but does not confirm an immediate price reversal.

    Outlook: Two Competing Forces

    Bitcoin now faces two competing forces. On one side, ETF redemptions and weak spot demand weigh on the market. On the other, whale activity offers support near $60,000. A sustained recovery still requires stronger buying across ETFs, exchanges, and the wider spot market.