Galaxy Digital Breaks Record With $9 Billion Bitcoin Sale For Estate Planning

Bitcoin has experienced massive volatility following confirmation that Galaxy Digital executed the sale of 80,000 BTC on behalf of a long-term client. The firm’s July 25 press release revealed that the transaction, one of the largest notional Bitcoin sales in history, was successfully completed and immediately shook the market. The news quickly spread across the crypto space, triggering speculation and sharp price fluctuations.

At its peak, Bitcoin recently touched the $123,000 mark, but the announcement spurred heavy selling and raised concerns that this might mark a local top. Short-term holders began realizing losses as the price pulled back, while analysts debated whether this historic exit signals distribution at the top or merely a healthy pause in a longer bull trend.

As Galaxy’s role in the transfer becomes clearer, attention turns to the broader implications. Many market participants now wonder if more legacy holders are preparing to exit and what impact this may have on Bitcoin’s path forward. With volatility growing and investor sentiment shaken, all eyes are on how the market absorbs this $9 billion sell-off and whether support levels will hold in the coming days.

A Historic Exit: Bitcoin Sale Triggers Market Speculation, Local Top Fear

Galaxy Digital has confirmed the successful execution of one of the largest notional Bitcoin transactions in crypto history. The firm completed the sale of more than 80,000 BTC—valued at over $9 billion at current market prices—on behalf of a Satoshi-era investor. According to the company, this historic sale was part of the investor’s broader estate planning strategy, marking one of the earliest and most significant exits from the digital asset market to date.

The announcement has sent ripples through the market, not only due to the sheer volume of Bitcoin involved but also due to speculation surrounding the identity of the investor. As details remain confidential, many analysts are debating whether the move signals a shift in market sentiment or simply reflects natural profit-taking after a prolonged bull trend.

Some analysts argue that this sale is part of a healthy cycle, where early holders begin to realize gains after years of holding through multiple market cycles. They believe the market has the liquidity and institutional interest to absorb such a sale without long-term damage. However, others interpret the timing and size of the sale as a potential warning sign—a signal that Bitcoin may have reached a local top around the $123K mark.

BTC Faces Critical Retest After Breakdown Below Support

Bitcoin is trading at $117,407 after briefly dipping below the $115,724 support zone marked on the chart. This level has served as the lower boundary of the range that began forming in early July, with resistance at $122,077.61. The price reacted quickly after the breakdown, reclaiming the 50-day SMA on the 8-hour chart, suggesting the pullback may have been a liquidity sweep rather than a confirmed trend reversal.

Volume spiked during the dip, indicating aggressive buying interest near support. However, Bitcoin remains below the 50-SMA ($117,593), which now acts as immediate resistance. The 100-SMA and 200-SMA remain comfortably below, confirming the longer-term bullish structure is intact, though momentum is weakening in the short term.

If bulls can push BTC back above the $118,000 area and reclaim range highs, a retest of $122,000 is likely. On the flip side, failure to hold above $115,724 could trigger a drop toward the 100-SMA at $112,548, or even the 200-SMA at $109,436 if selling accelerates.

Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView