BTC balances on exchanges drop - does this mean we're in for a supply squeeze?
Not exactly. While exchange balances have fallen to 2.7M BTC (from 3.1M BTC in July 2024), most of this decline isnโt due to investor withdrawals but a shift in market structure.
๐ Key facts:
๐นThe drop coincides with the launch of Bitcoin Spot ETFs.
๐น8 of 11 ETFs use Coinbase custody, meaning coins are moving from exchange wallets to institutional custodians.
๐นGlassnode classifies both under the โCoinbase entityโ, impacting balance readings.
When adjusting for non-Coinbase ETFs (FBTC, HODL), the combined holdings of exchanges + ETF wallets remain around 3M BTC - the same level as January 2024.
Bottom line: The decline in exchange balances reflects a shift in asset custody rather than a net reduction in available supply.
Discover more in the latest Week On-Chain
Not exactly. While exchange balances have fallen to 2.7M BTC (from 3.1M BTC in July 2024), most of this decline isnโt due to investor withdrawals but a shift in market structure.
๐ Key facts:
๐นThe drop coincides with the launch of Bitcoin Spot ETFs.
๐น8 of 11 ETFs use Coinbase custody, meaning coins are moving from exchange wallets to institutional custodians.
๐นGlassnode classifies both under the โCoinbase entityโ, impacting balance readings.
When adjusting for non-Coinbase ETFs (FBTC, HODL), the combined holdings of exchanges + ETF wallets remain around 3M BTC - the same level as January 2024.
Bottom line: The decline in exchange balances reflects a shift in asset custody rather than a net reduction in available supply.
Discover more in the latest Week On-Chain
As much as 7.91% of Bitcoin's supply - based on UTXOs' creation date - has already changed hands this year. At the same time, 31.34% of the supply was last transacted in 2024.
How does this compare to other post-halving years?
By February 2017, 13.95% of $BTC supply had changed hands while more than 29.27% of the supply was still coming from 2016.
In 2021, this figure was even higher at this point of the year, amounting to 16.34%, while 27.46% of supply belonged to 2020 buyers.
So 2025's lower turnover can signal both weaker speculative demand but also possibly conviction from 2024 holders - and an expectation of higher prices as the year unfolds.
View Relative Supply by Date Bands
How does this compare to other post-halving years?
By February 2017, 13.95% of $BTC supply had changed hands while more than 29.27% of the supply was still coming from 2016.
In 2021, this figure was even higher at this point of the year, amounting to 16.34%, while 27.46% of supply belonged to 2020 buyers.
So 2025's lower turnover can signal both weaker speculative demand but also possibly conviction from 2024 holders - and an expectation of higher prices as the year unfolds.
View Relative Supply by Date Bands
The Week On-Chain - Week 05, 2025
The regulatory environment surrounding Bitcoin is constantly changing, and new financial instruments such as derivatives and ETF products continue to develop. In this article, we analyze how the composition of digital asset investors is changing around it.
Executive Summary
๐ธBitcoin has evolved into a global asset with extremely deep liquidity, available 24/7, allowing investors to express their macroeconomic views even when traditional markets are closed.
๐ธBitcoin continues to prove itself as both a store of value asset, accruing over $850B in net capital inflows, and a medium of exchange asset, processing nearly $9B in economic volume per day.
๐ธMultipple metrics show new demand remains elevated but is well below previous cycle peaks.
๐ธInstitutional investors are growing, reducing drawdown severity and compressing volatility over time.
๐Read the full report.
๐กView all charts in this edition in The Week On-chain Dashboard.
The regulatory environment surrounding Bitcoin is constantly changing, and new financial instruments such as derivatives and ETF products continue to develop. In this article, we analyze how the composition of digital asset investors is changing around it.
Executive Summary
๐ธBitcoin has evolved into a global asset with extremely deep liquidity, available 24/7, allowing investors to express their macroeconomic views even when traditional markets are closed.
๐ธBitcoin continues to prove itself as both a store of value asset, accruing over $850B in net capital inflows, and a medium of exchange asset, processing nearly $9B in economic volume per day.
๐ธMultipple metrics show new demand remains elevated but is well below previous cycle peaks.
๐ธInstitutional investors are growing, reducing drawdown severity and compressing volatility over time.
๐Read the full report.
๐กView all charts in this edition in The Week On-chain Dashboard.
๐ข New Report Release: Glassnode x Gemini - 2025 Crypto Asset Trends
Explore the forces shaping the crypto market in 2025 with our latest 35-page report, featuring:
๐ธRetail investor resurgence
๐นInsights into derivatives and institutional participation
๐ธSolana's rise compared to Ethereum
๐นETF market impacts
๐ธMemecoin sector analysis
๐นRegional adoption trends
Download the full report for comprehensive, data-driven insights.
Explore the forces shaping the crypto market in 2025 with our latest 35-page report, featuring:
๐ธRetail investor resurgence
๐นInsights into derivatives and institutional participation
๐ธSolana's rise compared to Ethereum
๐นETF market impacts
๐ธMemecoin sector analysis
๐นRegional adoption trends
Download the full report for comprehensive, data-driven insights.
Stablecoin circulating supply has increased by $16.97B since the start of 2025, rising from $194.2B to $211.2B. However, the pace of growth has varied, with a slowdown in early 2025 before picking up again in February.
Throughout November and December, stablecoins were growing by ~$450M per day. In January, the rate declined to ~$400M per day, but February has seen a rebound, with $541M per day. This suggests renewed liquidity expansion after a period of deceleration.
Momentum accelerated in mid-January as the 7-day average moved above the 30-day SMA, signaling increased short-term demand.
Throughout November and December, stablecoins were growing by ~$450M per day. In January, the rate declined to ~$400M per day, but February has seen a rebound, with $541M per day. This suggests renewed liquidity expansion after a period of deceleration.
Momentum accelerated in mid-January as the 7-day average moved above the 30-day SMA, signaling increased short-term demand.
Stage 2 of our TON Blockchain integration is live!
Glassnode now offers an expanded suite of on-chain and derivatives metrics for TON, providing deeper insights into its market activity, supply dynamics, and investor behavior.
Newly added metrics include:
๐น Supply Last Active by Age Bands: track dormant vs. active supply
๐น Futures OI & Volume: monitor derivatives activity
๐น MVRV & SOPR: assess profitability and market cycles
Use these to analyze holding trends, liquidity, investor sentiment, and more!
Explore the full suite of TON metrics, starting with our dedicated Dashboard.
Glassnode now offers an expanded suite of on-chain and derivatives metrics for TON, providing deeper insights into its market activity, supply dynamics, and investor behavior.
Newly added metrics include:
๐น Supply Last Active by Age Bands: track dormant vs. active supply
๐น Futures OI & Volume: monitor derivatives activity
๐น MVRV & SOPR: assess profitability and market cycles
Use these to analyze holding trends, liquidity, investor sentiment, and more!
Explore the full suite of TON metrics, starting with our dedicated Dashboard.
The Week On-Chain - Week 07, 2025
Bitcoin is trading in the $93k-$97k range, leading to a wider digital asset market cooldown. Capital inflows are weakening, and derivatives activity is declining. Short-term holder accumulation patterns somewhat resemble May 2021, which was a relatively challenging set of market conditions.
Executive Summary
๐ธAfter Bitcoinโs second attempt to break above $105k in late January, the market has entered a contraction phase, with monthly price momentum sharply declining across major assets.
๐ธSolana has emerged as a market leader in capital inflows over the past two years, in contrast to Ethereum, which has comparatively struggled to attract sustained demand.
๐ธPerpetual futures open interest has declined across Bitcoin (-11.1%), Ethereum (-23.8%), Solana (-6.2%), and Memecoins Index (-52.1%), reflecting a diminished appetite for leveraged speculation.
๐Read the full report.
๐กView all charts in this edition in The Week On-chain Dashboard.
Bitcoin is trading in the $93k-$97k range, leading to a wider digital asset market cooldown. Capital inflows are weakening, and derivatives activity is declining. Short-term holder accumulation patterns somewhat resemble May 2021, which was a relatively challenging set of market conditions.
Executive Summary
๐ธAfter Bitcoinโs second attempt to break above $105k in late January, the market has entered a contraction phase, with monthly price momentum sharply declining across major assets.
๐ธSolana has emerged as a market leader in capital inflows over the past two years, in contrast to Ethereum, which has comparatively struggled to attract sustained demand.
๐ธPerpetual futures open interest has declined across Bitcoin (-11.1%), Ethereum (-23.8%), Solana (-6.2%), and Memecoins Index (-52.1%), reflecting a diminished appetite for leveraged speculation.
๐Read the full report.
๐กView all charts in this edition in The Week On-chain Dashboard.
Bitcoinโs momentum has stalled after an attempt to push into price discovery.
After a strong rally, BTC is now down 5.9% since early February, while ETH and SOL have dropped 16.9% and 33.1%. Memecoins, which surged +90.2% in late 2024, have now corrected -37.4%.
Diverging Performance Since 2023
๐น Bitcoin โ Trading 3.4x above April 2023 ๐น Solana โ Peaked at 11.8x, now at 7.6x ๐น Ethereum โ Struggling, ranging between 1.3x and 2.0x ๐น Memecoins โ Peaked at 5.2x, now the weakest sector.
Moreover, Ethereum & Memecoins capital flows have flipped negative, with capital outflows of -0.1% and -5.9%, respectively.
Create Your Own Cross-Sector Analysis
For this comparison, our analysts built a Memecoin Index, but you can compare any project with BTC, its L1, and sector benchmarks. With Glassnode Studio covering BTC, major L1s, 700+ ERC-20s, and 60+ SPL tokens, you can build your own cross-asset analysisโno coding required.
๐ Start here.
After a strong rally, BTC is now down 5.9% since early February, while ETH and SOL have dropped 16.9% and 33.1%. Memecoins, which surged +90.2% in late 2024, have now corrected -37.4%.
Diverging Performance Since 2023
๐น Bitcoin โ Trading 3.4x above April 2023 ๐น Solana โ Peaked at 11.8x, now at 7.6x ๐น Ethereum โ Struggling, ranging between 1.3x and 2.0x ๐น Memecoins โ Peaked at 5.2x, now the weakest sector.
Moreover, Ethereum & Memecoins capital flows have flipped negative, with capital outflows of -0.1% and -5.9%, respectively.
Create Your Own Cross-Sector Analysis
For this comparison, our analysts built a Memecoin Index, but you can compare any project with BTC, its L1, and sector benchmarks. With Glassnode Studio covering BTC, major L1s, 700+ ERC-20s, and 60+ SPL tokens, you can build your own cross-asset analysisโno coding required.
๐ Start here.
๐ข Cost Basis Distribution (CBD) now includes Ethereum, ERC-20, and SPL tokens!
Previously exclusive to Bitcoin, this innovative tool now provides a clearer view of investor positioning across multiple asset classes.
๐น Identify key support and resistance levels ๐น Track accumulation and distribution trends ๐น Now fully accessible via the Glassnode API
Learn more in this dedicated article.
Explore the expanded dashboard.
Previously exclusive to Bitcoin, this innovative tool now provides a clearer view of investor positioning across multiple asset classes.
๐น Identify key support and resistance levels ๐น Track accumulation and distribution trends ๐น Now fully accessible via the Glassnode API
Learn more in this dedicated article.
Explore the expanded dashboard.
The Week On-Chain, Week 08, 2025
Bybitโs historic $1.48B hack triggered panic withdrawals and a market-wide sell-off, pushing Bitcoin to $87K, 20.2% below its ATH. As a result, new investors faced severe unrealized losses, and with the STH-MVRV at 0.95, loss realization intensified. Without a strong demand catalyst, the downtrend may continue.
Executive Summary
๐ธBybit Hack: A smart contract exploit drained 403,996 ETH (~$1.13B) from Bybitโs cold wallets, triggering $4.3B in outflows across Bitcoin and stablecoins.
๐ธMarket Sell-Off: Sentiment collapsed, with Bitcoin down -13.6%, Ethereum -22.9%, Solana -40%, and Meme Coins -36.9%, resetting momentum to April 2024 levels.
๐ธBitcoin Weakness: The drop pushed BTC into the $70K-$88K realized supply โair gap,โ initially driven by long-term holder sell-offs and worsened by the Bybit hack.
๐ธSTH Pressure: STH-MVRV at 0.95 shows recent buyers 5% underwater, with profitability down 15.8%, signaling heavy unrealized losses.
Discover more in the latest Week On-Chain
Bybitโs historic $1.48B hack triggered panic withdrawals and a market-wide sell-off, pushing Bitcoin to $87K, 20.2% below its ATH. As a result, new investors faced severe unrealized losses, and with the STH-MVRV at 0.95, loss realization intensified. Without a strong demand catalyst, the downtrend may continue.
Executive Summary
๐ธBybit Hack: A smart contract exploit drained 403,996 ETH (~$1.13B) from Bybitโs cold wallets, triggering $4.3B in outflows across Bitcoin and stablecoins.
๐ธMarket Sell-Off: Sentiment collapsed, with Bitcoin down -13.6%, Ethereum -22.9%, Solana -40%, and Meme Coins -36.9%, resetting momentum to April 2024 levels.
๐ธBitcoin Weakness: The drop pushed BTC into the $70K-$88K realized supply โair gap,โ initially driven by long-term holder sell-offs and worsened by the Bybit hack.
๐ธSTH Pressure: STH-MVRV at 0.95 shows recent buyers 5% underwater, with profitability down 15.8%, signaling heavy unrealized losses.
Discover more in the latest Week On-Chain
๐ Who is realizing the most losses in Bitcoinโs latest sell-off?
Between Feb 25-27, over $2.16B in realized losses came from the most recent market entrants.
We break down the losses by age cohorts, contrast with prior peaks, and assess the market impact:
๐ 1d-1w cohort: $927M (42.85% of young cohort losses)
๐ก1w-1m cohort: $678M (31.3%)
๐ฃ1m-3m cohort: $257M (11.9%)
๐ด24h cohort: $322M (14.0%)
Bottomline: The largest capitulations came from those who bought BTC within the past week (โผ๏ธ)
In contrast, losses among those who held BTC for 3m-6m or longer remain negligible:
๐ต3m-6m cohort: $6.5M (0.3% of young cohort losses)
๐ข6m-12m cohort: $3.2M (0.15%)
This suggests that those who entered in H2 2024 or earlier are largely holding, while more recent buyers are exiting under pressure.
Across all cohorts, Feb 26 was still the largest single-day sell-off in months, with $1.13B in aggregate realized losses:
๐นFeb 3: $848M (-25%)
๐นAug 6: $2.02B (+79%)
๐นJuly 5: $1.3B (+15%)
Realized Loss by Age chart.
Between Feb 25-27, over $2.16B in realized losses came from the most recent market entrants.
We break down the losses by age cohorts, contrast with prior peaks, and assess the market impact:
๐ 1d-1w cohort: $927M (42.85% of young cohort losses)
๐ก1w-1m cohort: $678M (31.3%)
๐ฃ1m-3m cohort: $257M (11.9%)
๐ด24h cohort: $322M (14.0%)
Bottomline: The largest capitulations came from those who bought BTC within the past week (โผ๏ธ)
In contrast, losses among those who held BTC for 3m-6m or longer remain negligible:
๐ต3m-6m cohort: $6.5M (0.3% of young cohort losses)
๐ข6m-12m cohort: $3.2M (0.15%)
This suggests that those who entered in H2 2024 or earlier are largely holding, while more recent buyers are exiting under pressure.
Across all cohorts, Feb 26 was still the largest single-day sell-off in months, with $1.13B in aggregate realized losses:
๐นFeb 3: $848M (-25%)
๐นAug 6: $2.02B (+79%)
๐นJuly 5: $1.3B (+15%)
Realized Loss by Age chart.