Bitcoin Long-Term Holders Move $4B Worth of BTC: What This Means BTC

• Bitcoin long term holders spending hits $4 billion

• LTH spending still low compared to previous cycles

Bitcoin Long Term Holders Spending Hits $4 Billion

After Bitcoin rallied to hit historical levels over the last week, holders are starting to move their holdings. Bitcoin’s long-term holders are starting to make moves.

Chart illustrating Bitcoin spent volume by age, highlighting variations in BTC spending over multiple time periods against an increasing price trend from January to May.

According to Glassnode, older BTC wallets specifically those holding for 1 to 5 years have sold $4.02 billion worth of Bitcoin, making this one of the largest outflows in the current market cycle.

This shift in spending from long term holders marks the fifth-largest spending spike from this cohort during the ongoing cycle and shows that even seasoned holders are now moving coins possibly to take profits, rebalance, or react to current market conditions.

Also Read: Bitcoin long term holders pause as ETFs bite

As per Glassnode, the current selling activity is mostly lead by those who have held Bitcoin for 3-5 years. This cohort has moved $2.16 billion worth of BTC which is their second-largest outflow this cycle, only behind a massive $6 billion spike in March 2024.

Graph showing Bitcoin spent volume by age, with fluctuations from December 2023 to May 2025. The chart illustrates how different age groups of Bitcoin holdings contribute to the market activity, alongside the fluctuating BTC price in USD.

Those who have held BTC for 2-3 years have sold $1.41 billion worth of Bitcoin while those who have held for 1-2 years have sold the least, only offloading $450 million worth of Bitcoin.

In total, these cohorts have spent over $4 billion, this suggest that long term holders are currently spending significantly especially to take profit as prices dip.

Historically, long term holders have spent more than they are spending right now. For instance, in October 2024 LTHs spent $9.25 Billion, mostly led by 1–2 year holders. In March 2024 saw those holding BTC for 2-3 years spend $6.11B worth of Bitcoin.

Graph depicting Bitcoin's spent volume by age from December 2023 to May 2025, showing varying transaction volumes across different age bands alongside the fluctuating BTC price trend.

The return of these older coins to the market could suggest a shift in sentiment. Whether it’s profit-taking, portfolio rotation, or fear of downside risk, the fact that these long-held coins are moving is a huge change in the market.

What could this Mean for BTC

Historically, when older Bitcoin holders start moving their coins in large volumes, it can point to a turning point in the market sometimes a top formation, other times a liquidity event. But it's not always bearish.

It may simply indicate that some long-term investors are securing gains after holding through years of volatility.

Currently, it seems holders are selling to realize profit as prices surged to surpass $110k.

The price surge has left most of these holders in significant profitable levels. Therefore, we can say that these long term holders are not panic selling but are strategically taking positions. On the contrary, the spending is at lowest levels , compared to previous peaks and market is yet to reach peaks in terms of old coins moving.