Whales Drive Bitcoin Below $65K Sell-Off Amid Tariff Escalation

Large Bitcoin whales unleashed heavy selling pressure, propelling BTC below $65,000 and fueling a market-wide panic as U.S. tariff hikes rattled global sentiment. On-chain metrics from CryptoQuant and Glassnode reveal dominant inflows from top holders, mirroring patterns where smart money exits first during corrections. This plunge echoes past cycles, blending macro fears with opportunistic distribution.

Investing.com detailed the scene on February 22, with BTC dropping 4.6 percent to $64,882 and lows at $64,384, as the exchange whale ratio surged—major players shifting coins to platforms for sales. CoinDesk elaborated, noting a 5 percent slide to $64,700, with the ratio hitting 0.64, the highest since 2015, where nearly two-thirds of 23,000 daily BTC deposits stemmed from the top 10 entities. Short-term holders locked in $480 million losses daily, easing from prior peaks but signaling ongoing pressure. Trump's tariff moves provided the spark: after the Supreme Court invalidated parts of his program, he imposed a 15 percent global levy, stoking growth slowdown fears amid 1.4 percent Q4 GDP and 2.9 percent inflation. Altcoins like Ethereum and XRP shed 6 percent, with broader deposits rising, per Glassnode. Stablecoin inflows cratered, from $616 million USDT in November to mere $27 million, highlighting fading buy-side liquidity. This whale activity accelerates downturns but often precedes accumulation, as seen in mid-2022 parallels. Business Standard and Finviz linked the risk-off to tariffs directly, with BTC testing critical supports amid thinner buffers.

Whale dumps intensify short-term pain, sparking retail FOMO reversals and deeper corrections that test even seasoned portfolios. Yet for advanced holders, it heralds value zones where supply shocks resolve into buying opportunities. Patient investors benefit as markets recalibrate, potentially setting up multi-month rallies post-distribution.

Whale selling underscores Bitcoin's maturation, where big players dictate tempo but cycles persist. Advanced traders tracking on-chain flows and macro pivots stand to capitalize on this phase. Insight reveals opportunity beneath the chaos—position accordingly for the inevitable swing.

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