Bitcoin whales participate in V-shaped accumulation, offsetting 230K BTC sell-off

CoinTelegraph

by Biraajmaan Tamuly

February 20, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Bitcoin whales have been actively accumulating Bitcoin (BTC) despite a prolonged market downturn. Since December 2025, large holders have added over 236,000 BTC to their holdings, bringing total balances back to levels seen before the October 10, 2025, market crash. This accumulation is notable among wallets holding between 1,000 and 10,000 BTC, which have increased their reserves by nearly 8% over the past three months, reaching a total of 3.09 million BTC. The movement of Bitcoin whales is further evidenced by data showing that these large holders are increasingly moving their assets off exchanges. Over a 30-day rolling period, whale-related outflows averaged 3.5% of exchange-held BTC, the highest rate since late 2024. This suggests that whales are building positions and holding onto their Bitcoin rather than keeping it on platforms prone to volatility. This behavior is significant for crypto investors as it indicates confidence among major players in the market despite ongoing price declines. The accumulation by Bitcoin whales could signal a potential shift in market dynamics, with large holders positioning themselves for long-term gains. For readers interested in cryptocurrency trends, this underscores the importance of monitoring whale activity and its implications for market stability and future price movements.

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Originally published on CoinTelegraph on 2/20/2026