Large holders of digital assets have transferred approximately 2.4 billion dollars in Bitcoin and Ether to Binance over the past week. This massive “whale” movement occurs at a time when crypto buying demand remains unusually moderate at the beginning of 2026. Amin Ayan, a specialized analyst and journalist, warns that these patterns often precede periods of strong selling pressure in global markets.
According to on-chain data from CryptoOnchain, the deposited sum was split evenly between the two largest assets in the sector. Specifically, 1.33 billion in Bitcoin and 1.07 billion in Ether were recorded, marking the highest net flow of the month. However, analysts highlight a worrying imbalance, as stablecoin flows remained flat at just around 42 million dollars for the entire week.
This absence of new capital inflows into stablecoins suggests that the market lacks sufficient liquidity to absorb massive sell-offs. Additionally, the average size of Bitcoin deposits has grown drastically, increasing from 10 to over 22 units per transaction lately. Meanwhile, capital outflows toward cold storage have decreased significantly, signaling that investors prefer to keep their funds ready for immediate trading.
Does this capital movement represent an imminent signal of a deep correction?
The combination of rising deposits and stagnant crypto buying demand raises doubts about the sustainability of the current January rally. Linh Tran, a market analyst, argues that Bitcoin is in a structural corrective phase after reaching its peak of 126,000 dollars. This adjustment reflects a transition where institutional flows and macroeconomic conditions dominate over the pure retail speculation seen in previous cycles.
On the other hand, Bill Barhydt, CEO of Abra, maintains an optimistic view for the remainder of the year 2026. The executive believes that looser monetary policies will inject new global liquidity into risk markets very soon. According to Barhydt, the Federal Reserve is preparing the ground for renewed balance sheet support that will benefit digital assets. However, the success of this thesis will depend on investor confidence returning with renewed strength shortly.
Finally, the market faces a “QE light” environment where institutional support will be the main driver of growth. The reduction in long-term accumulation suggests that many large holders are strategically repositioning their portfolios for this year. In this way, the evolution of stablecoin flows will be the critical indicator to confirm if the market can resume its bullish path. Therefore, traders must closely monitor exchange activity to anticipate sudden changes in the market.
