Crypto is witnessing a sort of shuffling of the cards. Long-term Bitcoin holders have slowed their sales after months of steady reductions, while large Ethereum wallets have accumulated more tokens, according to recent reports.
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Traders remain cautious of price swings and data that gives mixed signals about where money will go next.
According to on-chain figures cited in market commentary, wallets that held Bitcoin for at least 155 days reduced their total from nearly 15 million coins in mid-July to just over 14 million in December.
Ether whales increase their holdings
Based on reports citing CryptoQuant and a crypto newsletter, addresses holding large amounts of ether have added around 120,000 ETH since December 26.
Milk Road analysts said wallets holding more than 1,000 ETH now control around 70% of the supply, and that share has increased since late 2024.
High concentration can indicate high conviction on the part of a few players, and it can also expose the market if those same portfolios decide to sell off. Both outcomes would shape liquidity and price fluctuations.
Long-term holders stopped selling $BTC for the first time since July 2025.
Things are looking good for a relief rally here. pic.twitter.com/t7Sl2hS9Ub
– Ted (@TedPillows) December 29, 2025
Long-term Bitcoin holders pause sales
Crypto investor Ted Pillows was quoted on
This change in activity is often interpreted as a sign of exhaustion after a long period of distribution. This may mean the sellers are done for now, but it does not guarantee a new uptrend.
Capital movements and market cuts
Garrett Jin, formerly of the BitForex exchange, suggested that some capital could shift from metals to crypto after a short squeeze in precious metals.
Reports reference silver and platinum gains as a backdrop. At the same time, bitcoin has been trading in a tight range recently, bouncing between $86,740 and $90,060 over seven days, a trend that has kept many traders on edge.
The price of silver has risen more than 1,570% this year, a figure that would represent an extreme move and will require independent confirmation.
Meanwhile, Bitcoin remains well below its all-time highs. Some analysts say tepid demand for ETFs and market mechanisms, including derivatives and liquidity models, play a bigger role in driving price action than general sentiment.
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Taken together, the data points to a market that is stabilizing rather than decisively recovering. Large ether holders are buying, long-term bitcoin owners have suspended sales, and US flows appear weak.
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