Fastest Shark-Tier Bitcoin Holders Post Strongest Monthly Accumulation Since FTX Collapse

The cryptocurrency market is witnessing a powerful signal from its largest players: fastest shark-tier holders—typically high-net-worth individuals, trading desks, and institutional entities—are accumulating bitcoin at unprecedented pace. Over the past 30 days, wallets holding between 10 and 1,000 BTC have scooped up approximately 110,000 coins, marking the most aggressive monthly buying spree since the FTX implosion of late 2022, according to chain data from Glassnode.

This buying momentum comes even as BTC trades in a relatively tight range around the $84,910 level as of late January, down roughly 25% from its October peak yet still holding above the November lows near $80,000. The Fish-to-Shark cohort now controls nearly 6.6 million coins—up from approximately 6.4 million just two months prior. With over 55 million active bitcoin addresses holding varying amounts of the asset, this concentration among mid-to-large holders reflects deliberate positioning rather than reactive trading.

Fastest Shark Tier Signals Strongest Conviction in Three Years

The 110,000 BTC accumulation by Fish-to-Shark wallets represents the largest monthly increase since Bitcoin collapsed toward the $15,000 area in late 2022. This resurgence in big-holder buying activity suggests a marked shift in sentiment—entities with substantial capital are viewing current price levels as attractive entry points or accumulation opportunities. The pace of acquisition indicates these “fastest shark” players are front-running what they perceive as undervaluation, despite the broader market showing signs of consolidation rather than explosive momentum.

Retail Investors Join the Accumulation Party

The buying isn’t confined to institutional or whale-tier participants. The Shrimp cohort—retail investors holding less than 1 BTC—has accumulated over 13,000 coins in recent weeks, the strongest showing since late November 2023. This layer of market participants is now holding roughly 1.4 million coins collectively, suggesting a synchronized bull case across market participants spanning both retail and institutional tiers.

This convergence matters: when both the fastest sharks and the smallest retail players identify value simultaneously, it often points to broad-based demand and potential inflection points in market sentiment. The retail accumulation tends to react to price volatility and sharp moves, yet recent weeks have shown disciplined buying even amid choppy price action.

NFT Ecosystem Evolution: Pudgy Penguins as a Blueprint

Beyond spot accumulation, the digital asset ecosystem is evolving with projects like Pudgy Penguins demonstrating new Web3 business models. The brand has transitioned from speculative digital collectibles into a multi-vertical consumer IP platform, spanning phygital products (over $13 million in retail sales, more than 1 million units sold), gaming experiences (Pudgy Party exceeded 500,000 downloads in just two weeks), and a widely distributed token ecosystem.

This expansion model—acquiring mainstream users first through retail and media channels before introducing Web3 elements—represents a maturation of how blockchain projects integrate with traditional commerce. The PENGU token airdrop to 6 million-plus wallets created natural liquidity and distribution, though sustained success will depend on execution in retail expansion and genuine token utility beyond governance.

Market Volatility: Broader Selloff Complicates the Bullish Setup

The accumulation narrative faced headwinds recently. Bitcoin’s decline accelerated in U.S. morning trading, pushing prices back to $85,200—representing a new low for the calendar year. The sharp selloff coincided with a reversal in gold’s spectacular rally, which had surged above $5,600 before quickly retreating to $5,200. The Nasdaq also suffered, falling 1.5%, with Microsoft declining over 11% following its disappointing fourth-quarter earnings.

Despite this near-term turbulence, the multi-tier accumulation behavior from fastest sharks to retail shrimps suggests conviction may be taking root beneath the surface volatility. For now, the market remains caught between macro headwinds and strong hands continuing to buy the dip.

Note: Data sourced from Glassnode on-chain analytics as of late January 2026. Bitcoin prices and market conditions are subject to rapid change.