Bitfinex Warns Bitcoin Traders of Price Stability Ahead

TLDR

• Whales reduced long positions from 73,000 BTC peaks.
• Bitcoin consolidates between $90,000 and $91,000 range.
• Institutional ETF flows show $1.2 billion inflows, $1.1 billion outflows.

Bitfinex has issued a warning to Bitcoin traders, advising them not to expect significant price increases for the cryptocurrency in the immediate future. This caution comes as large account holders, often referred to as "whales," are seen reducing their long positions in Bitcoin.

The reduction of long positions began after peaks were observed in late 2025, with holdings ranging between 72,700 and 73,000 BTC. Current trends show Bitcoin consolidating in the $90,000 to $91,000 range. This pattern of behavior often signals the need for traders to proceed with caution.

Historical Context of Whale Activity

Bitfinex is known for its significant whale activity, which has historically preceded major market movements. These activities include aggressive accumulation during price dips. Notably, in early 2025, a significant Bitcoin surge to over $112,000 followed such unwinds.

No statements from Bitfinex leadership, such as the CEO or CTO, have been publicly made about the current de-risking. Analysts like James Van Straten interpret the recent whale activity as profit-taking or rebalancing rather than a bearish sentiment shift.

Impact of Institutional Movements

Despite reduced long positions by whales, there are no reported impacts on overall liquidity or staking flows. However, institutional fund movements, such as the conflicting ETF flows with $1.2 billion inflows followed by $1.1 billion outflows, continue to create uncertainty.

This institutional uncertainty is compounded by recent changes in Fed policy, which have put additional pressure on Bitcoin market sentiment. Such dynamics are crucial for traders to monitor, especially when aligning their strategies with broader market trends.

Current Bitcoin Price Dynamics

On-chain data reveals that Bitfinex long positions have decreased from their previous peaks, while Bitcoin maintains support levels above $88,000 to $90,550. Despite this, the currency remains within a consolidation range between $85,000 and $95,000.

Previous events, such as the late-2025 whale accumulation at similar price points, indicate that potential rallies could still occur, with targets aiming as high as $135,000 if patterns repeat. Yet, analysts caution that short-term consolidation risks remain due to leverage unwinds.