Bitcoin News

Story: BTC Holders Lock In 14,600 Coins as Price Rally Tests Three-Month Peak

By Maheen Hernandez

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Rally Shows Cracks Beneath Surface. The 30-day net profit of 20,000 BTC sounds good until you compare it to real bull markets.

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Futures vs Spot Tells Different Story. Perpetual futures markets have played a huge role in Bitcoin's recent climb.

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Bitcoin holders cashed out big. On May 4, they realized daily profits of 14,600 BTC, the highest level since December 2025 when Bitcoin topped $90,000.

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The profit-taking surge reflects a major shift in market sentiment. For the first time since early 2026, Bitcoin holders are experiencing net profits of 20,000 BTC on a 30-day…

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The 30-day net profit of 20,000 BTC sounds good until you compare it to real bull markets. During previous rallies, those numbers hit 130,000 to 200,000 BTC.

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Unrealized profits are the highest since June 2025. That's both good and bad. Good because holders are sitting on gains. Bad because those gains create an incentive to sell.

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Exchange inflows remain muted, which means holders aren't rushing to dump coins on exchanges yet. That's a positive sign.

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Perpetual futures markets have played a huge role in Bitcoin's recent climb. Demand in that segment has expanded steadily since April, maintaining the speculative energy that…

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Read also: BTC Eyes $42K Bottom as $82K Rally Flags Bull Trap Warning

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Spot demand tells a different story. While it's improved from the lows earlier in 2026, it remains contracted compared to previous bull markets.

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The divergence between futures and spot markets highlights different investor strategies. Some traders are taking short-term speculative positions, betting on momentum.

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Bitcoin's rise since April has been impressive, but the market environment remains complex. The shift from net losses to net profits marks a critical inflection point, showing…

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Historically, such profit margins have prompted investors to secure gains. The incentive to lock in profits increases when unrealized gains reach elevated levels.

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The market's speculative nature is clear from the continued expansion of perpetual futures demand. That segment has been the primary driver of Bitcoin's price increase since April.

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Related: BTC ETF Inflows Hit Six-Week Streak, Longest Since Mid-2025 Peak

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