Cryptocurrency
Long-Term Bitcoin Holders ‘Pumping Sell-Side Brakes’ as Consolidation Continues: Analyst

“One of the biggest misconceptions in Bitcoin is that HODLers never sell,” said on-chain analyst James Check on X on Dec. 3. However, they do sell, and they’re currently keeping prices from moving higher, he added.
Bitcoin has been range bound, oscillating around $95,0000 since Nov. 20, two weeks ago. It has failed to register a new all-time high but remains in price discovery as long-term holders are “pumping the sell-side brakes,” said Check.
Pumping The Bitcoin Brakes
Right now, markets are approximately six times off the FTX cycle low, “and the market has hit resistance, chopped around, and corrected from similar levels in both of the prior cycles,” he added in a newsletter on Dec. 2. However, it has still powered onward to massively higher highs.
The analyst compared the market to a car, with demand being the accelerator and sell-side pressure being the brakes. The demand is “pedal to the metal,” with Michael Saylor and the spot Bitcoin ETFs hammering the buy-side, he said before adding:
“If the Long-Term Holders are pumping the sell-side brakes at an equal magnitude, the car isn’t going anywhere.”
One of the biggest misconceptions in #Bitcoin is that HODLers and OGs never sell.
They absolutely do, so I wanted to break down not only when, but at what profit levels they cash in.
My latest analysis is out for @_checkonchain subscribers (post in tweet below). pic.twitter.com/4jZlOl5oSI
— _Checkmate ⚡☢️️ (@_Checkmatey_) December 3, 2024
Following a parabolic monthly candle of $26,000 in November to the psychological $100,000 barrier, a period of consolidation where the asset can build market structure is a healthy phase.
On-chain analysis platform Glassnode concurred, reporting that daily realized profits to exchanges have cooled off significantly, representing a 42% drop from the peak in mid-November.
“This sharp decline signals reduced profit-taking activity, suggesting the market has entered a consolidation phase.”
After hitting an all-time high at $99.4K, #Bitcoin has fluctuated between $92K and $98K this past week.
Daily realized profits to exchanges have cooled off significantly, now at $277M/day. This represents a 42% drop from the peak of $481M/day on Nov 16.
This sharp decline… pic.twitter.com/atXIrKJjHA
— glassnode (@glassnode) December 3, 2024
Bitcoin dipped to $93,700 on Dec. 3 as political tensions in South Korea escalated but regained $96,000 during the Wednesday morning Asian trading session, keeping it within its sideways channel.
Analyst ‘Rekt Capital’ reported that BTC continues to retest the series of lower highs as support, adding that as long as this continues, the asset should be able to reclaim the ~$96,400 support area, which was touched a couple of hours ago.
Bitcoin continues to retest the series of Lower Highs as support
Producing longer and longer downside wicks
Grabbing liquidity at lower and lower prices without losing the trendline
As long as this continues, BTC should be able to reclaim the ~$96400 support$BTC… https://t.co/AB1izNbYO7 pic.twitter.com/g9gzNXRwN5
— Rekt Capital (@rektcapital) December 4, 2024
Elsewhere on Crypto Markets
Total capitalization is at an all-time high of $3.67 trillion, and altcoins are driving it there at the moment.
Today’s big movers are Binance Coin (BNB), which gained 15% to hit an all-time high of $771, and Tron (TRX), which surged a whopping 68% to an all-time high of $0.43 during early trading on Dec. 4.
Binance Free $600 (CryptoPotato Exclusive): Use this link to register a new account and receive $600 exclusive welcome offer on Binance (full details).
LIMITED OFFER for CryptoPotato readers at Bybit: Use this link to register and open a $500 FREE position on any coin!
Cryptocurrency
No Price Spike, But 22,500 BTC Quietly Left Exchanges in a Single Day

Bitcoin quietly continues to move off centralized exchanges, even as its price fails to mark any gains. On a single day in early June, roughly 22,500 BTC were withdrawn from trading platforms. This is a significant figure that suggests large holders are opting to secure their assets in private wallets rather than preparing them for sale.
Despite this major outflow, BTC’s price fell in the past 24 hours toward $100,000 but has managed to post a modest recovery and now sits around $103,500.
Signs of a Quiet Bullish Setup?
According to CryptoQuant’s latest analysis, such a pattern implies that these are not speculative trades by retail investors but deliberate accumulation by institutions such as ETF providers, custodians, or over-the-counter (OTC) desks.
These players typically operate under the radar, without the fanfare often seen with retail trading activity. The lack of a corresponding price spike may indicate that the market is in a consolidation phase, where long-term conviction is quietly building. Instead of being driven by hype or rapid momentum, the current trend seems to reflect strategic positioning and growing trust in Bitcoin’s long-term value proposition.
While immediate price action may appear stagnant, the continued drawdown of exchange reserves could potentially mean that supply-side pressure is easing. Historically, this kind of supply tightening has preceded major upward moves, although with a delay.
For now, the data points to accumulation, not distribution. CryptoQuant said that the situation should not be viewed as a lull, but as a potential setup for future price appreciation. As selling pressure diminishes, the groundwork may be forming for Bitcoin’s next leg up.
“There’s no reason to panic. This chart tells us that trust in Bitcoin is still strong. Maybe the price won’t explode right away. Maybe we’re just in a waiting phase. But as selling pressure fades, opportunities become clearer.”
Bitcoin May Struggle Through Summer Turbulence
While ETF flows continue to dominate investor attention, early signs that bullish momentum appears to be fading and deeper structural indicators suggest the market may be entering a period of consolidation, as per Matrixport’s insights.
Their models, which previously supported a bullish stance, now caution that the summer may bring increased uncertainty, particularly as key US economic indicators, such as the ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI, have fallen to their lowest levels since July 2024. This decline, coupled with a weaker manufacturing PMI, points to a broader economic slowdown that markets have yet to fully price in.
Further downside risks include the potential fallout from Trump’s tariff policies and the Fed’s hesitance to cut rates amidst lingering inflation fears. While Bitcoin’s trend model remains technically bullish above $96,719, the report noted that this support level is under threat.
With bond yields stagnant and the dollar showing weakness, Matrixport sees limited room for aggressive Fed intervention. As a result, the coming months may be defined more by caution than conviction, with Bitcoin likely to trade sideways unless macro conditions stabilize.
Binance Free $600 (CryptoPotato Exclusive): Use this link to register a new account and receive $600 exclusive welcome offer on Binance (full details).
LIMITED OFFER for CryptoPotato readers at Bybit: Use this link to register and open a $500 FREE position on any coin!
Cryptocurrency
Ripple v. SEC Lawsuit: Why June 16 Is Such an Important Date?

TL;DR
Ripple and the SEC face a key deadline as the lawsuit drags on without resolution.
The battle’s outcome is unlikely to cause any substantial volatility for XRP as the price now hinges on potential ETF approvals and Ripple’s business expansions.
Ripple and the SEC Remain Silent
It has been almost three months since Ripple’s CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, dropped the bomb, stating that the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) would dismiss its case against the company. Despite the numerous developments that have occurred since then, however, the lawsuit has yet to reach its official conclusion.
Earlier this week, the American attorney Fred Rispoli noted that “the status update in the 2nd Circuit looms large,” and Ripple and the SEC have not moved forward with the necessary refiling.
Recall that the two sides previously agreed that the company would pay a $50 million penalty for violating certain laws (instead of the previously ruled $125 million), which would mark the end of the legal battle. However, Judge Analisa Torres denied the motion, asserting that the parties failed to file it properly under Rule 60.
Rispoli said the deadline for that is June 16, expecting the entities to abide by the rules by then. In case they don’t, the lawyer believes the magistrates could restart the briefing process and push it for another 60 days. He described Torres’ ruling as “clear” and claimed that Ripple and the SEC “need to beg for forgiveness.”
“Ripple will say whatever to get it done, but how much public groveling is the SEC willing to do? And how much groveling will be authorized? We have 12 days to find out,” Rispoli concluded.
It is worth noting that the attorney provided the update on June 4, with no major progress on the Ripple v. SEC front since then.
Other industry participants who think the following days could be crucial for the case are Bill Morgan and the X user Levi. The former argued that something has to happen by June 16, or the appeal and cross-appeal will continue. For his part, Levi predicted that the date would mark the lawsuit’s official end.
Possible Impact for XRP?
The developments surrounding the case were among the main factors triggering substantial volatility for Ripple’s native token over the past several years. Since Garlinghouse’s announcement in March, though, the lawsuit has been largely priced into XRP’s valuation.
Looking ahead, future price movements for the asset may depend on elements such as the approval of XRP ETFs or Ripple’s further advancement and possible collaborations.
Nearly a dozen well-known companies have announced their intentions to introduce the first spot XRP exchange-traded fund in the USA, with Grayscale, 21Shares, WisdomTree, and Franklin Templeton being among the examples.
Such a product will give investors an additional option to gain exposure to the asset, with many analysts viewing the potential launch as a catalyst for a price rally. According to Polymarket, the odds of approval before the end of 2025 stand at approximately 94%.
Speaking of collaborations, it is worth mentioning that in April, Ripple acquired the prime broker Hidden Road for a whopping $1.25 billion. There was also rising speculation that the company was willing to purchase the stablecoin issuer Circle for more than $10 billion, but Garlinghouse recently rejected the rumors.
Meanwhile, XRP currently trades at around $2.15, representing a 12% decline over the past two weeks.
Binance Free $600 (CryptoPotato Exclusive): Use this link to register a new account and receive $600 exclusive welcome offer on Binance (full details).
LIMITED OFFER for CryptoPotato readers at Bybit: Use this link to register and open a $500 FREE position on any coin!
Cryptocurrency
On-Chain Data Signals ‘Buy the Dip’ as Bitcoin Hashrate Hits New Highs

Bitcoin (BTC) is down almost 7% from its all-time high (ATH), and on-chain signals are flashing a buying opportunity.
According to Darkfost, a pseudonymous analyst at the market intelligence platform CryptoQuant, this buy signal is coming from the Bitcoin Hash Ribbons indicator. This metric tracks the Bitcoin hashrate and is used to identify potential entry points during a market correction.
Is it Time to Buy the Dip?
The Hash Ribbon monitors Bitcoin mining activity and tells when miners are under stress or capitulating by comparing the 30-day and 60-day moving averages of the hashrate. Miner capitulation refers to a period when miners shut down their hardware and sell off their coin reserves to remain afloat because BTC has fallen below a certain price.
On most occasions, the capitulation coincides with the hashrate recovery. The hashrate metric tells how much computational power is required to solve complex math problems and approve transactions on the Bitcoin network. During this period of recovery, mining becomes more difficult.
Market experts say buying BTC during miner capitulation yields significant returns, and the best buy signals are seen during hashrate recoveries. Recently, Bitcoin’s hashrate has been reaching new highs, with the latest being 1.016 billion TH/S. The network’s mining difficulty also surged past 126 trillion during the last adjustment on May 30.
“We recently got a new buy signal from the Hash Ribbons indicator. This metric helps us assess the level of stress in the Bitcoin mining ecosystem. It’s not a big surprise considering that the hashrate has recently reached new all-time highs,” Darkfost stated.
Miners Are Selling Their BTC
Furthermore, the CryptoQuant analyst noted that the Hash Ribbon’s flashing a buy signal is a short-term negative. This is because miners selling their BTC to stay operational create long-term profitable opportunities.
Darkfost explained that the indicator has always been accurate except once, during the 2021 China mining ban event. Hence, the possibility of the metric being correct this time is high.
“Bottom line, this signal is telling you that buying the dip around here is a smart move,” he added.
The analysis comes as a solo BTC miner defied hashrate odds and beat mining giants to validate a block on the Bitcoin network, earning a reward worth over $330,000. Mining successes like this are extremely rare due to the high computational power required to approve transactions.
Binance Free $600 (CryptoPotato Exclusive): Use this link to register a new account and receive $600 exclusive welcome offer on Binance (full details).
LIMITED OFFER for CryptoPotato readers at Bybit: Use this link to register and open a $500 FREE position on any coin!
- Forex3 years ago
Forex Today: the dollar is gaining strength amid gloomy sentiment at the start of the Fed’s week
- Forex3 years ago
Unbiased review of Pocket Option broker
- Forex3 years ago
Dollar to pound sterling exchange rate today: Pound plummeted to its lowest since 1985
- Forex3 years ago
How is the Australian dollar doing today?
- World3 years ago
Why are modern video games an art form?
- Cryptocurrency3 years ago
What happened in the crypto market – current events today
- Commodities3 years ago
Copper continues to fall in price on expectations of lower demand in China
- Economy3 years ago
Crude oil tankers double in price due to EU anti-Russian sanctions