What caused the market to decline?
1. Whale Distribution: Large holders sold more than 180,000 BTC from late December through the end of January, adding meaningful supply to the market.
2. Derivatives Liquidations: Significant liquidations in derivatives markets injected additional liquidity into an environment already facing excess supply and weak demand ~ adding approx. 39,000 BTC to supply.
3. Options Market Sentiment: Options markets have reflected bearish near-term sentiment since August 2025, with downside positioning accelerating in early December.
4. New Investor Capitulation: The share of BTC held by new wallets declined sharply (from approximately 23% to 17% of total supply) indicating selling by newer participants without sufficient new entrants to absorb supply.
5. ETF Outflows: Roughly 82,000 BTC have exited spot BTC ETFs since November 2025, further contributing to net sell pressure.