Bitcoin's Long-Term Holders Signal Bull Market Rally

Bitcoin's price has been stuck in a sideways trend since June, but recent data suggests it may be preparing for a significant rally. According to CryptoQuant, Bitcoin's long-term holders (LTHs) are once again showing a pattern that has appeared before previous market rallies.

The last bull cycle began in January 2023 and continued until December 2025, during which these investors gradually sold part of their BTC as prices climbed. After the market correction, however, they bought back even more BTC than they had previously sold.

Now, LTHs control nearly 16 million BTC, the highest level on record. CryptoQuant says their accumulation has started to slow, with supply beginning to decline again.

This cycle has taken much longer than before, stretching to 31 months compared to 8 months in 2013, 17 months in 2017, and 16 months in 2021. Analysts attribute the delay to the launch of U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs and continued buying from institutional investors and new whales.