Crypto whales accumulating 🐋

Big holders are scooping up Ethereum, Chainlink and Bitcoin, according to on-chain data.

Author

Stephen Graves
January 20, 2026

📝 What you need to know

Crypto whales are increasing their positions in Ethereum, Chainlink and Bitcoin, even as retail traders step aside.

ETH spot market average order sizes have been dominated by whale activity since mid-December, while retail traders maintain dominance in the futures market, with analysts arguing the divergence signals a transfer of assets from short- to long-term holders.

Meanwhile, Ethereum’s staking ratio hit 30% Monday, with over $120 billion worth of ETH locked up on the network—suggesting growing institutional confidence in the network.

One institutional investor that’s doubling down on Ethereum is ETH treasury firm Bitmine, which added another $108 million worth of ETH to its holdings last week. However, the market reaction to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats sent its stock tumbling alongside ETH’s price. On prediction market Myriad, owned by Decrypt’s parent company Dastan, traders turned bearish on Ethereum’s chances Tuesday, placing a 54% chance on ETH’s next move taking it to $2,500 rather than $4,000.

Crypto Whales Accumulate as Retail Pulls Back

On-chain data show whales accumulating ETH, LINK, and BTC as retail selling pressure persists, highlighting a market divergence.

📰 In the News

Tom Lee's BitMine Adds $108 Million in Ethereum, But BMNR Dives Amid Trade War Turmoil

Ethereum treasury firm BitMine added $108 million last week, but its stock is down as markets react to President Trump's latest tariff threats.

Bitcoin Dips Under $90K as Crypto Stocks Plunge Amid Fresh Trump Trade War Turmoil

Crypto-focused stocks Strategy and SharpLink Gaming dropped sharply as Bitcoin fell below $90,000 amid Trump's latest tariff threats.

Coinbase CEO Seeks ‘Win-Win’ on Market Structure Bill in Davos Charm Offensive

Brian Armstrong is set to meet bank CEOs a week after Coinbase pulled support for the crypto market structure bill.

📊 Myriad Market of the Day

Ethereum's next move: Pump to $4K or Dump to $2.5K?

Trade "Ethereum's next move: Pump to $4K or Dump to $2.5K?" on Myriad

 💬 Quote of the Day

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“We're going to continue to work on the market structure legislation and meet with some of the bank CEOs to figure out how we can make this a win-win.”

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong is on a charm offensive at Davos

🥇 Be First to Market With Myriad

Join the Myriad Markets Telegram to see the latest prediction markets the second they drop!

With Myriad, the on-chain prediction market launched by Decrypt’s parent company DASTAN, you can break the news and stake the news, using USDC and points.

🕵🏻‍♀️ Editor’s Picks

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The hacker used a flash loan to inflate prices on Makina’s USD-USDC liquidity pool, and then traded to make over $4 million.

UK Parliamentary Panel Flags AI Oversight Gaps Could Expose Financial System to Harm

A parliamentary committee said regulators are struggling to keep pace as AI spreads across banks and insurers, urging clearer guidance.

Bermuda Plots 'Fully On-Chain National Economy' With Help From Coinbase and Circle

Bermuda wants to take its entire economy on-chain and will lean on Coinbase and Circle for support in the process.

📚 Watch and Learn

📹️ WATCH: Charles Hoskinson Talks Trump's Impact on Crypto - Decrypt

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson comments on Trump's meme coin, the president's impact on crypto, and how the government ruined the super cycle.

🎓️ LEARN: What Is Hyperliquid? The Decentralized Exchange With Its Own Blockchain

Hyperliquid’s decentralized exchange has rapidly grown to become one of the biggest projects in crypto. Here’s how it works.

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