Over 30,000 Bitcoin Withdrawn From Exchanges In A Week – Institutional Accumulation Underway?

Bitcoin is now facing a critical test around the $82,000 level after bulls lost momentum during last week’s failed attempt to reclaim $90,000. The rally that pushed BTC to $87,000 sparked a wave of optimism, but it quickly faded as selling pressure resumed. Since then, Bitcoin has slipped back into a bearish posture, with bulls struggling to regain control amid renewed volatility.

The broader financial landscape remains highly uncertain, with macroeconomic instability and geopolitical tensions continuing to weigh on investor sentiment. Markets across the board have shown signs of stress, and Bitcoin, often seen as a risk asset, has been particularly sensitive to these shifts.

Despite the pullback, there are signs of potential accumulation beneath the surface. On-chain data from Santiment reveals that more than 30,000 Bitcoin have been withdrawn from exchanges over the past week. This trend typically signals that investors are moving BTC into cold storage — a behavior often associated with long-term holding and reduced selling pressure.

As Bitcoin trades just above a key support zone, the market is now watching closely to see if bulls can mount a recovery — or if a breakdown below $82K will trigger the next leg of the correction.

Bitcoin Under Pressure as Bears Target Break Below $80K

Bitcoin is currently under severe selling pressure as bears attempt to push the price below the critical $80,000 level. Since March 24, BTC has dropped approximately 8%, erasing gains from a short-lived upswing and returning the market to a risk-off environment. Bulls are struggling to reclaim momentum, with each attempt to push the price above critical supply zones quickly met by renewed sell-side pressure.

This downturn follows a brief period of optimism, where hopes of a recovery rally emerged. However, macroeconomic uncertainty and ongoing instability in global markets have shaken confidence across financial sectors. Tensions surrounding trade policies, interest rates, and broader economic conditions continue to weigh heavily on risk assets — and Bitcoin remains at the center of this volatility.

Price action reflects these concerns, with BTC showing clear signs of weakness. Bulls must now defend key support and push back above resistance zones to avoid a deeper correction. Reclaiming momentum is essential to stop the current slide and reestablish a bullish trend.

Still, some on-chain data suggests that accumulation may be occurring beneath the surface. Top analyst Ali Martinez shared that over 30,000 BTC have been withdrawn from exchanges in the past week, according to Santiment. This trend aligns with behavior typically seen among large holders or institutions, who often accumulate during periods of fear and weakness.

While short-term price action remains bearish, these exchange outflows could be a sign that long-term investors are positioning for the next phase. For now, the focus remains on whether Bitcoin can hold above the $80K level — or if bears will seize control and trigger the next leg lower in this correction.

Price Action Details: Key Levels To Watch

Bitcoin is trading at $81,400 after a weekend of renewed selling pressure pushed prices lower and weakened short-term momentum. Bulls are now under pressure to defend current levels, as failure to hold this support zone could trigger a deeper correction and send BTC below the $80,000 mark — a level many analysts are watching closely as the next key area of demand.

To regain control and shift momentum back in their favor, bulls must reclaim the $86,500 level in the coming sessions. This area aligns with previous support-turned-resistance and sits just below the 200-day moving average. A break above $86,500, followed by a clear move past the $89,000 mark, would signal strength and likely fuel a massive rally toward new highs.

However, the risk of further downside remains. Market sentiment is fragile, and price action continues to reflect caution as macroeconomic uncertainty lingers. If buyers fail to step in, Bitcoin could test lower demand zones below $80K in the short term.

With volatility picking up, BTC’s ability to hold or reclaim these levels will be critical to determining whether a recovery rally is near — or if deeper losses are still ahead.

Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView