Bitcoin Registers Record 15.8M Long-Term Holders Amid Price Decline – Here’s Why
Bitcoin has hit a record 15.8 million long-term holders, even as its price has fallen about 9% since peaking near $82,000 on May 6. Long-term holders are addresses that have held Bitcoin for more than 155 days and are usually seen as a sign of strong conviction and bullish sentiment. The key point is that rising long-term holder counts do not automatically mean a rally. A healthy uptrend needs fresh demand to absorb coins from those holders. Current data suggests that demand is weak: whale growth has stalled and may be turning negative year over year, while accumulation by mid-sized “dolphin” holders, including institutions and ETF-related buyers, has slowed since early 2025. So the market looks more like it is facing a demand shortfall than heavy selling pressure. Price recovery may depend on stronger institutional inflows, renewed whale accumulation, and broader network participation.
