XRP Dips Below $2.25 Amid SEC Silence; BTC Faces Pressure from Whales

Bitcoin Faces Pressure Amid Satoshi Era Wallet Activity
Bitcoin Experiences Decline as Historic Wallets Reactivate
Recent movements in the cryptocurrency market have seen Bitcoin (BTC) dip, particularly influenced by significant transactions from long-dormant wallets associated with Satoshi Nakamoto. On July 4th, whale activity was highlighted by Arkham, a blockchain analytics firm, which reported that a single entity transferred an astonishing $8.6 billion worth of BTC from eight addresses. These wallets had remained untouched for over 14 years, with the funds now relocated to new addresses without any further movement.
This sudden influx of Bitcoin into new wallets has raised alarms regarding a potential oversupply on exchanges, which could negatively affect demand for BTC, especially around the $110,000 mark.
Edo Farina, founder of Alpha Lions Academy and a crypto enthusiast, commented on the situation, stating that the market is currently in a state of anxiety due to the reactivation of these Satoshi-era wallets, which have moved a substantial amount of Bitcoin.
Positive ETF Flows Support BTC’s Market Dynamics
Despite the unsettling whale activity, the US BTC-spot ETF market has seen a fourth consecutive week of positive net inflows. According to Farside Investors, the total for the week reached $769.5 million, with notable contributions from several key players:
- BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) recorded net inflows of $336.8 million.
- Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) attracted $248.4 million.
- ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB) reported $160 million in net inflows.
- Conversely, Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) experienced net outflows of $84.9 million.
Nate Geraci, President of ETF Store, emphasized IBIT’s strong performance in the US BTC-spot ETF landscape, noting that it has only seen one month of outflows since its launch in January 2024. He highlighted that IBIT now generates more revenue for BlackRock than its flagship iShares S&P 500 ETF, showcasing its effectiveness in the market.
Since its inception, IBIT has amassed $52.646 billion in net inflows, significantly outpacing GBTC, which has seen $23.333 billion in outflows, resulting in a net inflow difference of $49.622 billion. FBTC follows as a distant second with $12.218 billion in net inflows, further illustrating IBIT’s remarkable performance over the past 18 months.
BTC Price Forecast: Key Factors to Watch
On July 4th, BTC saw a decline of 1.42%, reversing the previous day’s modest gain of 0.74%, closing at $108,097. The future price movements of Bitcoin will hinge on several critical factors, including upcoming economic data from the US, signals from the Federal Reserve regarding monetary policy, legislative developments, trade-related news, and trends in ETF flows.
Potential Market Scenarios
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Bearish Outlook: A worsening trade conflict, legislative hurdles, hawkish signals from the Fed, robust US economic data, and ETF outflows could drive BTC down towards the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA), potentially testing the $100,000 support level.
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Bullish Outlook: Conversely, if trade tensions ease, bipartisan support for cryptocurrency legislation emerges, the Fed adopts a dovish stance, US economic data softens, and ETF inflows continue, BTC could surge towards its all-time high of $111,917.
In summary, the cryptocurrency market is currently navigating a complex landscape influenced by both historical wallet activity and ongoing ETF dynamics, with significant implications for Bitcoin’s price trajectory.