Bitcoin whale transfer: a long-held $11 billion whale moved $360 million in BTC to a DeFi hot wallet, renewing rotation risk into Ether after a prior $5B BTC→ETH shift and signaling potential selling pressure on Bitcoin.
-
Whale rotated $5B from BTC into ETH previously, now sent $360M BTC to a DeFi hot wallet
-
Dormant holders moved 32,300 BTC (~$3.93B) to exchanges — largest 3–5 year cohort transfer of 2025
-
On-chain patterns and analyst commentary (Bitget, Matrixport, Willy Woo) suggest selective capital flows, not broad altcoin season
Bitcoin whale transfer: $360M BTC to DeFi hot wallet renews rotation into ETH; monitor on-chain flows and exchange inflows for market impact. Read analysis and key takeaways.
The massive whale has previously rotated about $5 billion worth of Bitcoin into Ether after holding the BTC stash for seven years.
On Tuesday, a major Bitcoin whale—an address that once held roughly $11 billion in BTC—moved $360 million in Bitcoin to a decentralized finance hot wallet identified as “bc1pd.” Blockchain analytics firm Arkham reported the transfer, marking the whale’s first on-chain activity in two months.
The recent Bitcoin whale transfer mirrors prior behavior: two months ago the same address rotated approximately $5 billion of BTC into Ether. That earlier move briefly elevated the whale’s ETH holdings above other large holders, according to plain text industry reporting.
Source: Arkham
What is the likely intent behind the $360M Bitcoin whale transfer?
The transfer may signal another rotation into Ether based on the whale’s prior pattern of converting large BTC positions to ETH. Bitcoin whale transfer patterns typically indicate profit-taking, portfolio rebalancing, or funding of leveraged positions; monitoring subsequent moves clarifies intent.
How did the whale previously rotate into Ether?
On Aug. 21 the whale sold $2.59 billion in BTC to acquire roughly $2.2 billion in spot ETH and open a $577 million Ether perpetual long position. That earlier action catalyzed buying among other large addresses, which accumulated about $456 million in ETH within a day, according to plain text coverage.
As of the latest on-chain snapshots, the whale still retains over $5 billion in Bitcoin in its main wallet, a balance that could add selling pressure if further rotations occur.
Despite renewed whale activity, some market analysts — including Ryan Lee, chief analyst at Bitget (quoted in plain text industry reporting) — say Bitcoin continues to attract investors seeking a scarce hedge against macro risks. Lee described Bitcoin’s scarcity and divisibility as traits that support its “digital gold” narrative.
Why did dormant Bitcoin holders move nearly $3.9B to exchanges?
Bitcoin holders dormant for three to five years transferred a cumulative 32,300 BTC (about $3.93 billion) to exchanges, data shared by CryptoQuant analyst Maartunn indicates. This is the largest transfer from that cohort in 2025 and can reflect profit-taking by investors who accumulated long-term.
Source: Maartunn
Popular analyst Willy Woo (plain text mention) has noted that supply concentration among long-standing whales, many with very low cost bases, affects the amount of new capital required to push prices higher. This cost-basis differential matters when dormant holders decide to realize gains.
Source: Matrixport
Market research firm Matrixport (plain text mention) observed that although ETH and select altcoins outperformed recently, Bitcoin’s dominance is reasserting itself. Their analysis described the current rally as “selective rather than broad-based,” suggesting leadership may shift back to BTC in this cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has this whale rotated large BTC positions before?
Yes. The same whale rotated roughly $5 billion of BTC into ETH two months ago, splitting funds between spot ETH and perpetual long positions.
What should traders monitor after this transfer?
Watch exchange inflows, the whale’s subsequent on-chain moves, ETH deposit flows, and volatility metrics to determine whether this is a sale, rotation, or funding transfer.
Key Takeaways
- Whale activity: A previously large $11B whale moved $360M in BTC to a DeFi hot wallet, indicating renewed activity.
- Dormant holder movement: 32,300 BTC (~$3.93B) moved from 3–5 year holders to exchanges — the largest such transfer of 2025.
- Market impact: On-chain patterns and analyst commentary suggest selective ETH outperformance, but Bitcoin may be reclaiming leadership; monitor on-chain flows for confirmation.
Conclusion
The recent Bitcoin whale transfer to a DeFi hot wallet renews the possibility of further BTC→ETH rotations and raises the risk of selling pressure. Traders and analysts should prioritize on-chain monitoring, exchange inflows, and the whale’s next actions to assess market direction. COINOTAG will continue tracking developments and on-chain signals.
