BTC Outlook Turns Bullish as Whales Accumulate During Retail Sell-Off: Santiment

According to the on-chain analytics platform , BTC’s market structure is sending a bullish signal as large-money “whales” and “sharks” are purchaseing more, suggesting retail investors are taking profits.

The company said that crypto markets “usually follow the path of key whale and shark stakeholders and move in the opposite direction of small retail wallets.” They framed the recent shift in positioning as a excellent move for greater gains. 

According to Santiment, and sharks are addresses holding between 10 and 10,000 BTC, whereas regular traders are wallets holding less than 0.01 BTC. This broader group has added 56,227 BTC since mid-December, which the company stated signalled crypto’s “local bottom,” even though prices remained unchanged. 

Santiment views More Chances for Higher Upside

Santiment that the ongoing accumulation by whales and sharks caused a “bullish divergence” that was “bound to produce at least a minor breakout,” even though spot prices viewmed to be flat.

In the last 24 hours, things have gotten “even better,” in their opinion, as smaller traders have begined to lock in profits out of concern that the market is in a “bull trap” or a “fool’s rally.” 

Because of these conflicting trends, Santiment said that “we have a higher chance than usual of viewing market cap growth across the board in crypto.” The analytics company said that traditionally, when whales purchase and trade, it is a sign that the market is begining to move up again. 

Risk of BTC Range and Breakout

BTC has mostly traded in a range over the past six weeks, between $87,000 and $94,000, since mid- to late-November. According to data, the currency is now trading close to the top of that band. It hit a seven-week high of $94,800 on Coinbase late on Monday. 

Some observers say that this long period of sideways movement, along with patterns in on-chain accumulation, could lead to a more definitive move. If BTC can break above its recent range, stalled liquidity and short covering might make the following leg higher much larger.

Supply Moves Around Below the Surface

James Check, an on-chain expert, on Tuesday that BTC is begining 2026 with a push to $94,000, but “the real story is the huge supply redistribution happening under the hood.” He pointed out that the “top-heavy supply” has fallen from 67% to 47%, meaning that coins that were once held at high prices are now being sold to people who can better afford them.

Check said that has “dropped off a cliff” and that futures markets are going through a short squeeze, even though total leverage is still modest. Some traders think that this mix of lower realised profits and shorts being pushed to purchase, without too many derivatives building up, is a better setting for a long-term rise. 

Analysts Say Bullish Consolidation

Andri Fauzan Adziima, head of research at the crypto platform Bitrue, , “BTC is still in a bullish consolidation phase.” Adziima noted that there is strong resistance to prices going up between $95,000 and $100,000. He also said there is strong interest in call options with a January expiration at the $100,000 strike price. If spot prices keep going up, this might become a magnet.

Adziima noted that immediate support is in the $88,000 to $90,000 range, but he warned that “a break below could trigger a deeper correction.”

But for now, the combination of whales purchaseing more, people taking profits, and prices stabilising keeps the overall view leaning towards more gains, as long as can stay in its current range and break through the overhead barrier.