Long-Term Bitcoin Holders Dump 122K BTC Worth $11B In Single Day

Alexey Bondarev
Alexey BondarevJan, 23 2026 9:05
Veteran Trader Brandt Flags Rising Wedge Pattern / Shutterstock.com
Veteran Trader Brandt Flags Rising Wedge PatternImage: Shutterstock.com

Bitcoin (BTC) is flashing four simultaneous warning signs as long-term holder selling jumped 61% in a single day while ETF demand hit its lowest point since November and a bearish chart pattern forms near critical support levels.

What Happened: Holder Selling Accelerates

Long-term holders sold approximately 75,950 BTC on Jan. 21. The following day, that figure surged to roughly 122,486 BTC.

The 61% increase represents a sharp acceleration rather than gradual distribution. These sellers remain profitable, with long-term holder NUPL still in the belief zone despite dropping to a six-month low.

On the technical side, a head-and-shoulders pattern is forming on the 12-hour chart with the neckline sitting near $86,430.

A breakdown would imply roughly 9-10% downside.

CryptoQuant analyst @KriptoMevsimi described the current market as potentially "the largest long-term Bitcoin supply release in history," adding that Bitcoin "is not only undergoing a price cycle, but potentially a transition in who holds it and why."

Meanwhile, spot ETFs recorded net selling of approximately $1.19 billion for the week ending Jan. 21. Short-term speculative buyers are filling the gap, with the one-week to one-month holder cohort increasing its supply share from 4.6% to 5.6% since Jan. 11.

Also Read: What Drove Seeker's 200% Spike While Airdrop Recipients Rushed To Sell?

Why It Matters: Support Structure Weakens

The convergence of technical breakdown signals, accelerating long-term selling, weakening ETF flows, and rising speculative participation creates fragile market conditions.

Short-term traders typically buy dips and sell rebounds rather than providing durable support.

Bitcoin needs a strong 12-hour close above $90,340 to ease immediate pressure, with $92,300 representing a more meaningful recovery level. A loss of $86,430 would confirm the bearish pattern breakdown, and with the current buyer composition tilted toward speculation, downside moves could accelerate quickly once support fails.

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Alexey Bondarev

Alexey Bondarev is the Head of Content at Yellow.com, having reported on crypto for the last 10 years. He specializes in in-depth Research and Learn pieces, with a focus on analytical reporting, industry context, and the bigger forces shaping crypto, from the AI era and security technologies to fintech innovation. He believes that everything digital will imminently overcome everything analogue and is working hard to make that come true.

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Long-Term Bitcoin Holders Dump 122K BTC Worth $11B In Single Day | Yellow