Unveiling Bitcoin’s Ownership Shift: Institutional Acquisition Surges
Our team comprises leading industry experts and seasoned editors who ensure the delivery of reliable and insightful editorial content. Please be aware of our Ad Disclosure policies.
Bitcoin Market Overview: A Shift in Ownership
As of Saturday afternoon, Bitcoin’s valuation has reached a stable point, hovering around $108,100. This equilibrium follows a significant exodus of coins by major stakeholders.
Advertisement Banner
Recent analyses reveal that prominent Bitcoin holders, often termed ‘whales,’ which include early adopters and large-scale miners, have offloaded over 500,000 BTC over the past year. With current market rates, this translates into a staggering $50 billion. These released coins have largely been acquired by institutional entities, marking a notable transition in Bitcoin’s ownership landscape.
Whale Activity: A Transition of Power
Insights from Bloomberg, based on 10x Research data, indicate a notable decline in balances of wallets holding between 1,000 and 10,000 BTC. These balances decreased from over 4.5 million coins in January 2023 to approximately 4.47 million by July 2025.
Conversely, wallets containing 100 to 1,000 BTC experienced growth, rising from nearly 4 million to 4.77 million. This development suggests that significant players are reducing their holdings while medium-sized investors, often encompassing funds or affluent clients, are expanding their portfolios. These changes occur discreetly through in-kind transfers and private transactions, bypassing public exchanges.
Institutional Influence: Increasing Stakes
Institutional players such as funds, ETFs, and corporate treasuries have eagerly acquired the Bitcoin relinquished by whales. Data from Bitcoin Treasuries highlights that private companies have increased their Bitcoin reserves from 279,374 BTC in July 2024 to 290,883 BTC today.
Public corporations have seen a more pronounced increase, with their holdings climbing from 325,400 BTC to 848,600 BTC. ETFs have spearheaded this movement, boosting their balance from 1,039,000 BTC to 1,405,480 BTC. Collectively, these groups have amassed 899,198 BTC—equating to approximately $96 billion—over the last year. This significant buying momentum has contributed to market stability as whales reduce their involvement.
Currently, BTCUSD is trading at $108,227. Data source: TradingView.
On-Chain Holdings Evolution
The data reflects a trend where medium-sized wallets expand while the largest holdings diminish. This transition suggests the emergence of new investor categories entering the Bitcoin arena.
Edward Chin, co-founder of Parataxis Capital, noted that in-kind transfers enable Bitcoin to transition from anonymous holders to regulated entities without public trades. This discreet mechanism enhances on-chain activity and introduces greater oversight into substantial Bitcoin transactions.
Market Stability: Volatility at Historic Lows
With the rise of institutional investments, Bitcoin’s price volatility has significantly decreased. The Deribit 30-day volatility index is at its lowest in two years. Jeff Dorman, CIO at Arca, likens today’s Bitcoin to a stable dividend-paying asset, potentially yielding annual returns in the 10–20% range.
This stability is a stark contrast to the dramatic 1,400% surge witnessed in 2017. For those focused on long-term savings, consistent returns are increasingly appealing compared to volatile market spikes. Fred Thiel, CEO of miner MARA Holdings, highlighted that his company retains every coin it mines. However, he cautioned that should whale selling intensify and institutional interest wane, Bitcoin prices might face downward pressure.
Editorial Excellence at Bitcoinist
At Bitcoinist, our editorial process is dedicated to producing meticulously researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We adhere to rigorous sourcing standards, and each article undergoes a thorough review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This meticulous process ensures that our content remains trustworthy, pertinent, and valuable for our readers.
