CryptoMediaClub
Thursday, July 31, 2025
  • All news
  • Bitcoin
  • Ethereum
  • Altcoins
  • NFT
  • Blockchain
  • Analysis
No Result
View All Result
  • All news
  • Bitcoin
  • Ethereum
  • Altcoins
  • NFT
  • Blockchain
  • Analysis
No Result
View All Result
CryptoMediaClub
No Result
View All Result
Home Bitcoin

Bitcoin Whales and Other Dwellers of the Crypto World

12.04.2023
A A
0
123
VIEWS
ShareShare

The cryptocurrency space, like any other milieu, has several slang expressions that are commonly used even in official documents. One of these terms is something that anyone interested in digital assets or trading has probably come across. It’s the word “whale.” 

A crypto whale, or just a whale, is a large holder of an asset. The term is used by the media, financial experts, and ordinary users. BTC whales were first called large investors in 2013 by cryptocurrency trader Vinny Lingham. He took the term from stock market traders who used it back in the last century. 

Whales have perhaps the greatest influence on the crypto market. Just like their marine namesakes, which can create a huge wave thanks to their impressive size, BTC whales have a lot of digital assets and can easily influence the quotations of certain coins by making transactions. Whales are most often involved in market manipulations such as Pump and Dump. 

Types of Whales & Their Bitcoin Share 

Bitcoin Whales and Other Dwellers of the Crypto World

In early 2021, when the crypto market reached its peak, Glassnode analysts broadened the classification of BTC investors, dividing them into eight categories of “marine species.” Apart from whales, the analysts derived humpback whales as well. The main difference between this category of investors is the number of digital assets stored in their accounts. Ordinary whales possess from 1,000 to 5,000 BTC, while humpback whales have over 5,000 BTC. However, this classification didn’t take root, and all holders of more than 1,000 BTC are still referred to as just “whales.”

Despite Bitcoin’s decentralized nature, the analysis of BTC addresses demonstrates that whales own the largest number of tokens. For instance, last year’s Glassnode study found that whales control about 31% of the total BTC supply. According to BitInfoCharts, 2,039 whales held over 1,000 BTC as of December 9, 2022, which is nearly 40% of the entire issue. At that, five addresses own between 100,000 and 1 million BTC.

Bitcoin’s “Sea Fauna”

Bitcoin Whales and Other Dwellers of the Crypto World

Not only whales inhabit the crypto “sea,” but also smaller creatures. Their slang names didn’t catch on so well in the community, but they’re still actively used in forums and by some experts. 

So, according to the amount of BTC in the account, the “marine fauna” of the crypto space is divided into the following species:

  • Sharks — 500-1,000 BTC.
  • Dolphins — 100-500 BTC.
  • Fishes — 50-100 BTC.
  • Octopuses — 10-50 BTC.
  • Crabs — 1-10 BTC.
  • Shrimps — <1 BTC. 

The original version missed plankton, which somehow later appeared in this classification. Plankton are BTC addresses with less than 0.01 BTC on balance. Such addresses contain just over 0.22% of all BTC in circulation, yet they account for 74% of all addresses in the Bitcoin network. 

The market behavior of plankton, shrimps, and crabs can significantly impact crypto quotes, as the total number of such investors accounts for 99.65% of all BTC addresses in the network. According to BitInfoCharts, the number of addresses with less than 10 BTC exceeds 43.3 million. Together, they own over 17% of BTC’s issue, and that’s why their actions can seriously affect Bitcoin’s price. 

For example, rumors circulating in the community about Tesla’s upcoming major BTC sale in May 2021 caused a 20% drop in Bitcoin’s price. The reason behind it was that retail investors succumbed to the FUD effect and began actively selling their BTC. Eventually, Tesla CEO Elon Musk denied the rumors, but Bitcoin couldn’t recover to its previous level for a long time after such a shock. 

Whales & BTC’s “Food Chain”

Bitcoin Whales and Other Dwellers of the Crypto World

Whales’ behavior greatly influences market activity, as smaller investors use it as a reference point. From time to time, the following picture can be observed: whales dump large amounts of BTC into the market. This makes shrimps begin to sell out actively. This increases the pressure on the asset’s price, and quotes fall. Then whales redeem the coins at a lower price. This way, assets of small holders move to whales’ addresses. Or vice versa, when whales accumulate BTC assets and withdraw them into cold wallets, smaller inhabitants of the “crypto sea” float downstream and follow their example. 

For that matter, 2022 was a challenging yet telling year. The FUD attack on Terra was triggered by whales, which was followed by the fall of the first cryptocurrency and a global sale of assets by shrimps and plankton, hitting BTC’s price even harder. The second blow this year was FTX’s collapse. However, small BTC holders didn’t sell off assets this time but rather switched to hoarding, following the lead of large investors. Consequently, the total balance of plankton and shrimps’ Bitcoin addresses rose to a record 6.3% of the total issue.

So, small holders give whales room to maneuver while whales guide and correct market flows. Like in sea depths, the “crypto sea” can’t exist without smaller life forms and larger ones. Therefore, plankton and shrimps are an integral part of the BTC “food chain.”

Share9Tweet6ShareSharePin2

Related Posts

Coinbase’s Astounding $100 Billion Milestone Amidst Bitcoin’s Record Surge
Bitcoin

Coinbase’s Astounding $100 Billion Milestone Amidst Bitcoin’s Record Surge

15.07.2025
0

BitcoinWorldCoinbase’s Astounding $100 Billion Milestone Amidst Bitcoin’s Record Surge The cryptocurrency world is buzzing with excitement, and for good reason!...

Read moreDetails
Bitcoin’s Unseen Ascent: Why Market Euphoria Is Still Ahead, According to Alphractal CEO

Bitcoin’s Unseen Ascent: Why Market Euphoria Is Still Ahead, According to Alphractal CEO

14.07.2025
Bitcoin Holdings Soar: The Blockchain Group’s Momentous Digital Asset Accumulation

Bitcoin Holdings Soar: The Blockchain Group’s Momentous Digital Asset Accumulation

14.07.2025
Bitcoin’s Astonishing Anomaly: Why Public Search Interest Remains Low Despite Record Highs

Bitcoin’s Astonishing Anomaly: Why Public Search Interest Remains Low Despite Record Highs

14.07.2025
Bitcoin Treasury Strategy: Unleashing Growth with The Blockchain Group’s $3.52M Boost

Bitcoin Treasury Strategy: Unleashing Growth with The Blockchain Group’s $3.52M Boost

08.07.2025
Load More
Next Post
Lugano, the new Bitcoin city

Lugano, the new Bitcoin city

0 0 votes
Рейтинг статьи
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
guest
0 комментариев
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Recommended

Metaplanet Emerges as Top Gainer in Japanese Stocks After Adding Bitcoin to Reserves

Metaplanet Emerges as Top Gainer in Japanese Stocks After Adding Bitcoin to Reserves

1 year ago
Top Crypto Gainers Today on DEXScreener – SENDR, IZZY, MEGS

Top Crypto Gainers Today on DEXScreener – SENDR, IZZY, MEGS

10 months ago
Decoding the Global Landscape of Cryptocurrency Adoption

Decoding the Global Landscape of Cryptocurrency Adoption

2 years ago
Hong Kong Central Bank Launches Wholesale CBDC Project to Foster Tokenization

Hong Kong Central Bank Launches Wholesale CBDC Project to Foster Tokenization

1 year ago

Categories

  • All news
  • Altcoins
  • Analysis
  • Bitcoin
  • Blockchain
  • Ethereum
  • NFT
No Result
View All Result

Highlights

Bitcoin difficulty predicted to fall 5% as hashrate dips

Bolivia and El Salvador Collaborate in Digital Asset Sector

XRP Price Prediction: Analyst Says ‘Most Profitable Phase’ Just Started – $10 First Then $100?

Comprehensive Reform of Digital Asset Regulation Proposed in U.S.

Will Siton’s DOGE Surpass XRP in the Future? Siton Mining Launches DOGE-Exclusive Contracts, Unlocking Daily Passive Income

Why Is Crypto Up Today? – July 31, 2025

Trending

Altcoin Season Flickers as Cardano, Dogwifhat, Fartcoin Command $1.7B Daily Volume
All news

Altcoin Season Flickers as Cardano, Dogwifhat, Fartcoin Command $1.7B Daily Volume

31.07.2025
0

The crypto market enters August 2025 with traders debating whether a muted altcoin season is underway. While...

JPMorgan Integrates Crypto Into Traditional Banking Services

JPMorgan Integrates Crypto Into Traditional Banking Services

31.07.2025
Crypto Governance Crunch: Nearly 1 in 4 North American CFOs Plot 2027 Treasury Shift

Crypto Governance Crunch: Nearly 1 in 4 North American CFOs Plot 2027 Treasury Shift

31.07.2025
Bitcoin difficulty predicted to fall 5% as hashrate dips

Bitcoin difficulty predicted to fall 5% as hashrate dips

31.07.2025
Bolivia and El Salvador Collaborate in Digital Asset Sector

Bolivia and El Salvador Collaborate in Digital Asset Sector

31.07.2025
  • All news
  • Altcoins
  • Bitcoin
  • Blockchain
  • Ethereum
  • NFT
  • Analysis
Editor: cryptomediaclub.com@gmail.com
Advertising: digestmediaholding@gmail.com

Disclaimer: Information found on CryptoMediaClub is those of writers quoted. It does not represent the opinions of CryptoMediaClub on whether to sell, buy or hold any investments. You are advised to conduct your own research before making any investment decisions. Use provided information at your own risk.
CryptoMediaClub covers fintech, blockchain and Bitcoin bringing you the latest crypto news and analyses on the future of money.

© 2023 Crypto News. All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • All news
  • Bitcoin
  • Ethereum
  • Altcoins
  • NFT
  • Blockchain
  • Analysis

Disclaimer: Information found on CryptoMediaClub is those of writers quoted. It does not represent the opinions of CryptoMediaClub on whether to sell, buy or hold any investments. You are advised to conduct your own research before making any investment decisions. Use provided information at your own risk.
CryptoMediaClub covers fintech, blockchain and Bitcoin bringing you the latest crypto news and analyses on the future of money.

© 2023 Crypto News. All Rights Reserved

wpDiscuz