Briefing
On-chain data confirms that Bitcoin’s Long-Term Holders (LTHs) ∞ the most patient and confident investors ∞ have conducted one of the largest profit-taking events of the entire cycle. This massive distribution suggests the market has entered a structural shift, moving from accumulation to a late-cycle exhaustion phase where smart money sells into new demand. The single most important data point proving this thesis is the LTH Supply falling sharply from its peak of 15.75 million BTC to a current level of just 13.6 million BTC, a level not seen since early 2023.
Context
As Bitcoin price struggles to reclaim key highs, the central question for most investors is whether the current correction is a healthy dip or the beginning of a prolonged bear market. Average participants are wondering if the market’s foundational support ∞ the veteran investors who hold through volatility ∞ is still intact, or if the distribution is too severe to sustain a quick recovery. This data helps to answer whether the long-term conviction has truly broken.
Analysis
Long-Term Holder (LTH) Supply measures the total Bitcoin held by addresses that have not moved their coins for over 155 days. This metric is a proxy for investor conviction; when it rises, it signals strong HODLing, and when it drops, it signals that experienced investors are taking profits. The current pattern shows a rapid, aggressive decline in LTH Supply.
This coin movement is a classic “smart money” distribution, where veteran investors sell their supply to newer market participants. The sheer magnitude of this reduction, over 1.5 million BTC liquidated in a short period, indicates that the structural supply shock that drove the bull market is reversing, leading directly to the conclusion that the market has entered a major cycle exhaustion phase.
Parameters
- Key Metric ∞ Long-Term Holder Supply (LTH) ∞ The total amount of Bitcoin held by investors for more than 155 days.
- Supply Reduction ∞ 1.57 Million BTC ∞ The amount of supply that moved out of the LTH cohort over the recent quarter.
- Current LTH Supply ∞ 13.6 Million BTC ∞ The lowest LTH supply level recorded since early 2023.
- Institutional Floor ∞ $89,000 ∞ The estimated average acquisition price for institutional investors (ETFs) acting as a potential downside price floor.
Outlook
This aggressive supply distribution suggests that the market will likely enter a period of prolonged consolidation or a deeper correction as new buyers absorb the veteran selling. The structural supply shock that fueled the rally is now fully unwound. To confirm a market floor, readers should watch for a stabilization in the Short-Term Holder Realized Price , which would signal that new buyers have stopped selling at a loss and a new accumulation base is forming.
Verdict
The massive liquidation by veteran investors confirms the structural supply shock has reversed, signaling a major cycle top and extended consolidation.
