
Jakarta, Pintu News – Bitcoin on-chain data shows a clear difference in behavior between large holders and small investors. While retail traders appear to be taking profits after the rally in early January, the “whales” are moving in the opposite direction.
Based on data from Santiment, this difference in behavior has historically often signaled an increased likelihood of bullish market conditions.
As Bitcoin’s price hovered above $93,000 at the time the data from Santiment was released, many retail investors were seen starting to re-evaluate their positions by calculating profits from the recent price increase. This evaluation seemed to prompt profit-taking by small wallets, although large holders continued to add to their holdings.
Wallets holding between 10 and 10,000 BTC were recorded accumulating more than 56,000 coins between mid-December and early January. Meanwhile, wallets with balances of less than 0.01 BTC started selling, indicating concerns that this rally is only temporary, rather than a sustained rise.

As of January 14, 2026, Bitcoin was trading at $95,469, or approximately IDR 1,611,442,752 — marking a 4.28% increase over the past 24 hours. During this period, BTC dipped to a low of IDR 1,544,744,674 and reached a high of IDR 1,613,368,033.
At the time of writing, Bitcoin’s market capitalization is estimated at around IDR 32,144 trillion, while its 24-hour trading volume has surged by 56%, reaching IDR 1,178 trillion.
Read also: 3 Biggest Token Unlocks to Watch This Week!
Small Bitcoin holders started selling when the price of Bitcoin rose sharply in early January. When the price surpassed $93,000, many retail investors chose to realize profits rather than add to their positions.
This behavior reflects concerns that the recent price strength may be a bull trap. Retail traders seemed skeptical that higher price levels would hold, especially after the sharp moves that occurred in the previous few weeks. As a result, wallets with small BTC balances added to the selling pressure during the period.
In a data-heavy post, Santiment noted that this behavior was different compared to mid-December, where retail activity was still mixed and had yet to show a clear trend. The recent price rally seems to have triggered profit-taking by retail investors.
As retail investors began to exit the market and cause selling pressure, large holders of Bitcoin continued to accumulate. Wallets with holdings between 10 and 10,000 BTC have added 56,227 coins since December 17, even as the price flattened.
Santiment classifies this pattern as one of the most bullish configurations in their analysis framework. The combination of accumulation by whales and distribution by retail is often a harbinger of further market capitalization growth in crypto assets.
The data suggests that large holders are comfortable enough to absorb selling pressure at current price levels. Their consistent buying activity contrasts sharply with the hesitation from retail investors, signaling confidence from the long-term view.
Read also: Top 4 US Stocks that Analyst Ali Martinez Highlighted!

Historically, periods where whales accumulate while retail investors sell have often led to further price increases. However, Santiment also cautions that favorable probabilities do not always guarantee results. Such bullish phases can last days or weeks, and whale behavior can change quickly if market conditions change.
For retail investors, the important lesson is not to blindly follow one side. The current market structure suggests there are hidden strengths, but risk management remains paramount. Monitoring the gap between whale accumulation and retail sell-offs can provide useful context, especially in volatile market phases.
For now, Bitcoin’s market structure still shows support. Retail investors’ decision to get back in or remain cautious will likely depend on how long this behavioral divergence lasts.
That’s the latest information about crypto. Follow us on Google News to get the latest crypto news about crypto projects and blockchain technology. Also, learn crypto from scratch with complete discussion through Pintu Academy and stay up-to-date with the latest crypto market such as bitcoin price today, xrp coin price today, dogecoin and other crypto asset prices through Pintu Market.
Enjoy an easy and secure crypto trading experience by downloading Pintu crypto app via Google Play Store or App Store now. Also, get a web trading experience with various advanced trading tools such as pro charting, various types of order types, and portfolio tracker only at Pintu Pro.
*Disclaimer
This content aims to enrich readers’ information. Pintu collects this information from various relevant sources and is not influenced by outside parties. Note that an asset’s past performance does not determine its projected future performance. Trading crypto carries high risk and volatility, always do your own research and use cold hard cash before investing. All activities of buying and selling bitcoin and other crypto asset investments are the responsibility of the reader.
Reference: