Crypto whales accumulate as bear market nears end

CryptoQuant reports whales are accumulating Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP as prices approach realized values, signaling a late-stage bear market, though a confirmed bottom has not yet been reached.

CryptoQuant reports that large holders, known as whales, are actively accumulating Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP as the bear market appears to be entering its final phase. Despite this accumulation, a confirmed market bottom has not yet been established, and downside risks remain. Bitcoin whale holdings have increased to 3.06 million BTC, up from 2.87 million in December 2025, though still below the previous bull market peak. Ethereum wallets holding between 10,000 and 100,000 ETH now collectively hold a record 19.6 million ETH, while those with more than 100,000 ETH have added about 1.8 million ETH since mid-2025. XRP whales are quietly absorbing supply through large passive orders, with average order sizes remaining in the whale category. Across all three assets, whales are increasing their positions as prices hover near or below realized prices—a pattern that has historically signaled the late stages of a bear market. However, CryptoQuant cautions that the market bottom is not yet confirmed.