Bitcoin’s (BTC) richest players are cashing out near the top, sparking fears of a deeper correction toward the $100,000 level.
Sunday’s sudden $4,000 price dive, triggered by a whale unloading a seven-year-old stash, underscored the scale of profit-taking now underway.
The entity in question rotated roughly 22,769 BTC ($2.59 billion) into Ether, buying 472,920 ETH ($2.22 billion) spot and even opening a $577 million ETH long, according to Arkham data relayed by Lookonchain.
With an estimated $11.4 billion in BTC still on hand, the whale is sitting on a 1,675% profit margin.
At the broader level, Glassnode reports that all Bitcoin cohorts—from sub-1 BTC holders to billionaires controlling over 10,000 BTC—have flipped decisively into distribution.
The heaviest selling pressure comes from the 10–100 BTC cohort, typically tied to high-net-worth investors and early crypto funds.
“The uniformity across cohorts highlights broad sell-side pressure emerging in the market,” Glassnode noted.
BREAKING:
BLACKROCK IS SELLING BITCOIN AGAIN.
IT HAS TRANSFERRED 1,703 $BTC WORTH $189 MILLION ON COINBASE JUST NOW. pic.twitter.com/jnDdY5mgev
— Ash Crypto (@Ashcryptoreal) August 25, 2025
Adding to the caution, onchain data shows that over 94% of Bitcoin entities are currently in profit, a level that has historically coincided with cycle tops.
Glassnode data highlights that each time profitability neared saturation in past bull runs, Bitcoin faced double-digit drawdowns as investors rushed to lock in gains.
While today’s macro backdrop differs, the psychology of mass profitability remains a powerful force.
So many wallets now sit on hefty unrealized gains. Therefore, the temptation to sell into strength could amplify downside risks.
Bitcoin’s latest pullback has confirmed a breakdown from a rising wedge pattern, a bearish setup often preceding sharp declines.
The move places BTC at risk of extending losses toward the 0.618 Fib retracement near $94,500, with further downside potential to $91,600, a key horizontal support.
The breakdown aligns with weakening RSI momentum, suggesting bulls are losing control. If selling pressure accelerates, the wedge could mark the beginning of a deeper correction phase, validating warnings from onchain metrics as mentioned above.
The bearish wedge outlook could be invalidated if Bitcoin reclaims the 20-day EMA near $115,500 with strong volume, turning it back into support.
Sustained ETF inflows or renewed institutional demand could also counteract whale distribution, absorbing sell-side pressure. Additionally, macro catalysts such as a dovish Federal Reserve shift or improving liquidity conditions could reignite bullish momentum.
If these factors converge, BTC may recover above the wedge’s upper boundary near $120,000, flipping the current breakdown into a bear trap and setting the stage for a retest of all-time highs.
Yashu Gola is a crypto journalist and analyst with expertise in digital assets, blockchain, and macroeconomics. He provides in-depth market analysis, technical chart patterns, and insights on global economic impacts. His work bridges traditional finance and crypto, offering actionable advice and educational content. Passionate about blockchain's role in finance, he studies behavioral finance to predict memecoin trends.