Experienced Investors Sustain Selling Pressure; Demand Exhaustion Confirmed → Insights

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Briefing

The core insight reveals a fragile market structure defined by demand exhaustion from new buyers colliding with sustained profit-taking from veteran investors. This suggests the recent price consolidation is a critical transitional phase, where the market is struggling to absorb supply and risks a deeper contraction. The most important data point confirming this thesis is that Long-Term Holder spending has been persistently above 22,000 BTC per day since the July market peak, indicating continuous selling pressure from the most experienced cohort.

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Context

Many investors are wondering if the recent price correction is a healthy consolidation before a rally or the start of a deeper, mid-term bearish phase. The common question is → “Are the long-term, convicted holders still buying, or are they cashing out, and is there enough new demand to absorb their supply?”

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Analysis

The two key metrics are the Long-Term Holder (LTH) Spend Volume and the Short-Term Holder (STH) Cost Basis. LTH Spend Volume measures the daily movement of coins that have not moved for over 155 days. When this metric rises, it means experienced investors are taking profits, injecting supply back into the market. The STH Cost Basis is the average price at which newer investors (holding coins for less than 155 days) acquired their Bitcoin; it acts as a critical psychological and technical support level.

The current pattern shows LTH spending is elevated and sustained, meaning veteran sellers are consistently active. Simultaneously, the price has failed to reclaim the STH Cost Basis of approximately $113.1k. This failure indicates that new demand is exhausted, as the average recent buyer is now underwater and may capitulate, reinforcing the need for a cautious outlook.

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Parameters

LTH Spend Volume (30D-SMA) → Over 22,000 BTC/day – The persistent daily volume of older coins being sold since July.
Short-Term Holder Cost Basis → ~$113.1k – The average price paid by recent buyers, acting as a key resistance level.
Percent of Supply in Profit → Dropped to ~85% – Implies 15% of the circulating supply is now held at a loss.
Options Market Sentiment → Leaning Bearish – Traders are favoring put options over calls, indicating a defensive posture.

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Outlook

This persistent supply from experienced holders and the lack of conviction from new buyers suggest the market will likely remain in a prolonged consolidation phase. A near-term recovery is contingent on a significant influx of spot demand to absorb the LTH selling. The key confirming signal to watch is the reclamation of the $113.1k STH Cost Basis ; failing to hold this level could accelerate the market’s descent into a deeper contraction phase.

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Verdict

The market is in a fragile, transitional phase where sustained profit-taking is overwhelming new demand, signaling a high risk of prolonged consolidation.

long-term holder spending, short-term holder cost, demand exhaustion, sustained profit taking, market consolidation, price floor test, investor conviction, on-chain metrics, realized volatility, options market fear, put call ratio, open interest high, supply distribution, cycle fragility, price discovery failure, accumulation zone, capital rotation, risk appetite fading, leverage reset, market fatigue, investor sentiment, profit taking pressure, cost basis support, macro trend shift Signal Acquired from → glassnode.com