CryptoQuant reports Bitcoin whale holdings have climbed to roughly 3.06 million BTC in 2026, still below the 2025 peak of 3.23 million.
Ethereum mega-whales (100k+ balances) have added about 1.8 million ETH (+70%) since mid-2025, even as smaller holders distributed 2.7 million ETH.
Bitcoin traded near $64,935 and Ethereum near $1,913 on Monday, both close to their ‘realized price’ levels that CryptoQuant flags as historically late-bear-market zones.
Big money may be quietly calling the bottom. CryptoQuant’s report, titled ‘Buying the Bear: A Signal of the Bear Market’s Final Stage,’ says large wallets are accumulating across Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP — a pattern the firm associates with the tail end of prior downturns. This is CryptoQuant’s analytical interpretation of on-chain data, not a guaranteed forecast. Bitcoin opened Monday at $64,848.91, then rose to $64,935.75 by mid-morning; Ethereum opened at $1,908.93 and ticked up to $1,913.13, according to Yahoo Finance pricing data.
Whale Accumulation Patterns Diverge by Asset
The mechanics differ across coins. Bitcoin whale holdings, excluding exchanges and mining pools, have risen through 2026 to about 3.06 million BTC, with aggressive buying when price dipped below $60,000 in June. XRP whales are described as accumulating ‘by absorption’ — large order sizes persist in the $1.0–$1.2 range even though 90-day taker volume sits in a neutral zone. Ethereum’s 10k–100k balance cohort hit a record near 19.6 million ETH, while mega-whales above 100k added roughly 1.8 million ETH (+70%) since mid-2025 — even as the 1k–10k cohort shed about 2.7 million ETH since January. CryptoQuant notes Bitcoin (~$64K) and XRP (~$1.1) trade near realized prices of $52.9K and ~$0.75 respectively, while Ethereum (~$1,900) trades below its ~$2,450 realized price.
What This Means for Your Portfolio and Wallet
If whale accumulation historically precedes bottoms, it could matter for anyone holding crypto through the 2026 downturn. But CryptoQuant itself warns further downside is possible before a confirmed floor forms, and past patterns don’t guarantee repeat outcomes.
Strategic Positioning & Defense Ideas
Given crypto’s volatility, position sizing, dollar-cost averaging and keeping crypto exposure within a diversified portfolio remain standard risk-management approaches rather than chasing on-chain signals alone. 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 whether Bitcoin holds above its realized price of $52.9K and if ETH mega-whale accumulation continues. Full data via CryptoQuant, reported by The Daily Hodl and Yahoo Finance.
