Bitcoin at $104K: Can Whales and ETFs Drive BTC to $125K Before July?

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Bitcoin (BTC) is trading at $104,749**, showing signs of consolidation just below the psychologically significant **$105,300 resistance, marked by the 20-day exponential moving average (EMA). After reaching an intramonth high of $112,000 in May**, BTC pulled back to **$103,100—a level corresponding to the 0.786 Fibonacci retracement of its April-to-May breakout surge. Despite short-term hesitation, the broader technical and on-chain structure suggests a coiled bull flag pattern, with growing institutional demand, whale accumulation, and dwindling exchange supply laying the groundwork for a potential rally toward $125,000 by July 2025.

Whale Accumulation Fuels Long-Term Bullish Sentiment

One of the most compelling narratives supporting higher prices is the surge in whale accumulation. Since January 2025, new whale wallets—defined as addresses holding 1,000+ BTC with balances younger than six months—have increased their holdings by over 1.1 million BTC, now valued at more than $115 billion. This represents nearly half of all Bitcoin currently held on centralized exchanges.

This rapid accumulation far exceeds what can be attributed to retail investors or miners alone. Instead, it strongly indicates that institutional capital, channeled through vehicles like spot Bitcoin ETFs, is driving this shift. As whales move BTC off exchanges and into long-term storage, the liquid supply available for immediate sale shrinks—reducing sell-side pressure and setting the stage for explosive volatility once the next catalyst emerges.

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Bitcoin ETFs Drain Over 700,000 BTC from Circulation

The rise of U.S.-listed Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) has become a structural force in the market. In just 12 months, net inflows into these products have surpassed $44 billion, removing over 700,000 BTC from public float. BlackRock’s IBIT now holds more than 660,000 BTC, while Fidelity’s FBTC has accumulated 200,000 BTC.

Although Grayscale’s GBTC has seen outflows—dropping from 600,000 BTC to under 200,000—the overall trend across the ETF ecosystem remains decisively bullish. These funds are not only democratizing access to Bitcoin but are also absorbing new supply faster than miners produce it post-halving. This imbalance creates a structural deficit, reinforcing upward price pressure throughout Q2 and Q3 of 2025.

Exchange Reserves Plummet as Supply Shock Deepens

On-chain data reveals a dramatic decline in Bitcoin balances held on centralized exchanges. From a peak of 3.1 million BTC in August 2024, exchange reserves have fallen to under 2.4 million BTC by June 2025—a reduction of 700,000 BTC, worth over $70 billion at current prices.

This exodus accelerated in February 2025, coinciding with rising institutional inflows and renewed whale buying. With less BTC available for instant trading, market depth has thinned, making rallies sharper and corrections shallower. This tightening of supply played a key role in fueling Bitcoin’s ascent from $60,000 in mid-2024** to its recent attempt at **$112,000.

Corporate Adoption Reaches 3.2% of Total Supply

Corporate treasuries are another growing pillar of demand. As of June 2025, 61 public companies collectively hold 673,897 BTC, representing 3.2% of Bitcoin’s total supply, according to Standard Chartered. MicroStrategy remains the largest holder, but others are following suit.

However, most of these acquisitions occurred above $90,000**, meaning a sustained drop below **$80,000 could trigger accounting-related sales or margin calls. While currently supportive of bullish sentiment, corporate holdings introduce a potential source of volatility during sharp downturns.

Broader Accumulation: OTC Desks and Retail Join In

Accumulation isn't limited to whales and ETFs. Data from CryptoQuant shows that withdrawals from over-the-counter (OTC) desks have increased by 22% since March 2025, signaling strong institutional demand outside regulated ETF channels.

At the same time, retail participation remains robust. Wallets holding between 0.1 and 1 BTC are steadily increasing, indicating that smaller investors are taking advantage of price dips near the $100,000–$103,000 range. Combined with declining exchange inflows and rising self-custody trends, this paints a picture of broad-based, long-term confidence in Bitcoin’s value proposition.

Technical Outlook: Bull Flag Awaits Break Above $106.4K

Technically, Bitcoin is consolidating within a tight range between $103,100 (Fib 78.6%)** and **$106,400 (Fib 50%), forming a textbook bull flag pattern since the April low at $100,700**. A decisive close above **$106,400 would confirm continuation momentum, targeting a retest of $112,000**, followed by an extension toward **$125,000.

Key support levels remain strong:

Indicators reflect neutrality: daily RSI hovers near 50, 4-hour RSI sits at 44, and funding rates are flat. But should bulls reclaim $106.4K, expect a surge in open interest and momentum-driven buying.

Macro Risks: Jobs Data Could Be the Catalyst

All eyes are on Friday’s U.S. Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) report. Economists forecast job growth of 125,000–130,000, down from April’s 177,000. A weaker-than-expected print could revive Fed rate cut expectations, weaken the U.S. dollar (DXY), and provide a tailwind for risk assets like Bitcoin.

Conversely, a strong jobs number could push DXY above 106 and send 10-year Treasury yields past 4.5%, triggering capital rotation into safer assets and pressuring BTC toward key support zones.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is driving Bitcoin’s potential move to $125K?

Bitcoin’s path to $125K is being fueled by structural demand from ETFs, aggressive whale accumulation, declining exchange supplies, and growing corporate adoption—all occurring against a backdrop of reduced post-halving issuance.

How do Bitcoin ETFs impact price?

Spot Bitcoin ETFs absorb large quantities of BTC from the open market, reducing liquid supply. With inflows exceeding new miner output, ETFs create a structural deficit that supports long-term price appreciation.

Why are whale movements important?

Whales control large portions of Bitcoin’s supply. When they accumulate and move BTC off exchanges, it reduces available sell-side liquidity, increasing price sensitivity to buy-side pressure.

What happens if NFP data beats estimates?

A strong jobs report could delay Fed rate cuts, strengthen the U.S. dollar, and lead to short-term Bitcoin weakness—potentially pushing price toward $103K or lower.

Is $112K resistance still relevant?

Yes. The May high at $112K remains a psychological and technical barrier. A confirmed breakout above this level would likely accelerate momentum toward $125K.

Could corporate holders cause a sell-off?

Yes—if Bitcoin drops below $85K–$88K for an extended period, some corporate treasuries may face margin pressures or accounting write-downs that could trigger sales.

Final Outlook: The Stage Is Set for a July Breakout

While short-term consolidation persists near $104K–$106K, the underlying fundamentals remain strongly bullish. With ETF inflows steady, whales accumulating aggressively, and macro indicators poised to shift in favor of risk assets, the odds favor a breakout before July.

A break above $106.4K could ignite a rapid retest of $112K—and if macro conditions cooperate—open the door to $125K by mid-summer. Traders should monitor exchange flows, ETF data, and U.S. economic releases closely as final triggers align.

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