Bitcoin explodes… but small investors flee Binance en masse

In the markets, anything can turn around. Even the absurd becomes reality. At the end of 2025, while bitcoin flirts with 93,000 dollars, small investors are abandoning exchange platforms. Binance, long their stronghold, now seems quite empty. Conversely, large portfolios are intensifying their maneuvers. A flight to ETFs for some, a strategic accumulation for others. This reshuffling could well redefine the balances of the crypto market.

Shrimps on the run: Binance no longer profits

There was a time when small investors made and broke the weather on Binance. In December 2022, they deposited an average of 2,675 BTC per day. Three years later, this number has collapsed to only 411 BTC. This is a historic low, observed despite a market in full euphoria.

CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost does not mince words:

The activity of “shrimps,” i.e., small bitcoin holders (less than 1 BTC), has dropped to one of the lowest levels ever recorded. 

This disengagement has several explanations. On one hand, the simplicity of ETFs: no need to manage keys or juggle digital security. On the other hand, growing weariness of volatility, stress, and hacks.

But deep down, it might be an admission: the dream of crypto democratization seems to be fading, in favor of financial efficiency.

Whales dance: when the big bet big on bitcoin

While the small step back, whales move forward. Alphractal data reveal an unprecedented phenomenon: long positions of large accounts explode.

Joao Wedson, CEO of the platform, confirmed on X:

The Whale vs. Retail Delta shows that, for the first time in bitcoin history, whales are so massively positioned in longs compared to retail traders. 

This shift in center of gravity toward large holders changes the market dynamic. On Binance, wallets holding 10 to 100 BTC recently injected more than 111 million dollars. A trend confirming the rise of stronger players, able to hold over the long term.

The market is focusing, decisions are institutionalizing. And behind this transformation, the entire ecosystem is being reshaped.

ETFs, micro-deposits, Ethereum… what the data reveal

Some segments resist however. Notably holders of 0.001 to 0.01 BTC. In one month, these micro-investors deposited 3.88 million dollars on Binance. Very sensitive to fluctuations, they trade based on rumors, in a logic of survival more than accumulation.

But this occasional vitality does not mask the overall reality: crypto, once festive and community-based, becomes technical, silent… almost cold. Ethereum, Solana, and Avalanche fare no better: retail flows stagnate or decline.

The rise of ETFs confirms this trend. These investment vehicles attract cautious profiles, tired of thrills and risky interfaces. Binance and the like bear the brunt.

5 numbers that change the game in 2025:

• 93,383 $: bitcoin price at the time of writing this article;
• 411 BTC/day: new retail deposit low record on Binance;
• 12%: share of BTC now held by institutions;
• 3.88 million $: deposits from wallets of 0.001–0.01 BTC over 30 days;
• 111 million $: recent deposits by holders of 10 to 100 BTC on Binance.

As the small step back and Binance loses its former glow, other players take over. At CoinShares, the latest barometers report a surge of 716 million dollars in crypto investments in one week. The rush to ETFs is not a flight; it is a change of era. Bitcoin remains king… but its kingdom evolves.