Bitcoin opened at $64,848.91 on August 10, 2026 and climbed to $64,935.75 by mid-morning, while Ethereum rose to $1,913.13 from a $1,908.93 open.
CryptoQuant data shows Bitcoin whale holdings have climbed to roughly 3.06 million BTC in 2026, still below the 2025 cycle peak of 3.23 million.
Large Ethereum wallets holding 100,000+ ETH have added about 1.8 million ETH (+70%) since mid-2025, even as smaller holders distributed roughly 2.7 million ETH since January.
Crypto’s big money is doing the opposite of what the headlines suggest. Bitcoin opened at $64,848.91 on Monday, August 10, 2026, down 0.1% from Sunday’s open, before climbing to $64,935.75 by 8:43 a.m. ET. Ethereum opened at $1,908.93, down 0.3%, then edged up to $1,913.13. These are real-time trading prices, not projections. Meanwhile, a new CryptoQuant report titled ‘Buying the Bear: A Signal of the Bear Market’s Final Stage’ argues that large wallet holders are quietly loading up across Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP.
Whale Accumulation Hints at a Market Bottom
According to CryptoQuant, Bitcoin whale holdings, excluding exchanges and mining pools, have climbed through 2026 to roughly 3.06 million BTC, with whales buying aggressively as prices dipped below $60,000 in June, though holdings remain below the 2025 bull-cycle peak near 3.23 million BTC. Ethereum’s 10,000-100,000 ETH cohort has hit a record high of roughly 19.6 million ETH, and mega-whales holding over 100,000 ETH have added about 1.8 million ETH, a 70% increase, since mid-2025, even as smaller 1,000-10,000 ETH holders distributed roughly 2.7 million ETH since January. XRP whales are also positioning within the $1.0-$1.2 range. CryptoQuant notes Bitcoin (~$64K) and XRP (~$1.1) trade near their realized prices of $52.9K and roughly $0.75, while ETH (~$1,900) trades below its realized price of about $2,450, a level the firm calls a historically late-bear-market zone.
What This Means for Your Portfolio and Wallet
Whale accumulation patterns like these have historically preceded market bottoms, but CryptoQuant explicitly cautions that further downside remains possible before any floor is confirmed. For crypto holders, current prices sitting near realized-price benchmarks could represent value entry points, though volatility risk remains elevated.
Strategic Positioning & Defense Ideas
Standard hedging approaches, sizing crypto exposure appropriately within a diversified portfolio, holding some stablecoin or cash reserves, and avoiding leverage during uncertain bottoming phases, remain relevant here. Disclaimer: This analysis is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or investment advice.
What to Watch Next
Watch whale wallet flows, realized price levels, and whether Bitcoin and Ethereum can hold above key support. Full data via Yahoo Finance and The Daily Hodl’s coverage of CryptoQuant’s report.
