Despite recent price volatility, institutional demand for Bitcoin (BTC) remains exceptionally strong, according to data from blockchain analytics platform CryptoQuant. The firm's founder, Ki Young Ju, revealed that large custody wallets have accumulated a staggering $53 billion worth of Bitcoin over the past 12 months, representing an increase of approximately 33%.
This accumulation is primarily observed in wallets holding between 100 and 1,000 BTC, which CryptoQuant identifies as a key indicator of institutional investor activity, particularly from the United States. Excluding wallets associated with exchanges and miners, this cohort added 577,000 BTC over the year, a flow that Ju notes "is still flowing in." This surge coincides with the launch and growth of spot Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), which have significantly contributed to institutional adoption.
Supporting this trend, data from CoinShares shows that $1.55 billion flowed into Bitcoin investment products in a single week, marking the strongest weekly intake since October 2025. Bitcoin accounted for over 70% of the total $2.17 billion in crypto fund inflows for that period. Analysts interpret this substantial capital movement as a potential defensive hedge by investors amidst rising geopolitical tensions, trade uncertainties, and policy shifts, rather than mere speculative momentum chasing.
Corporate accumulation continues unabated. Japanese firm Metaplanet added 4,279 BTC (worth $451 million) in Q4 2025, bringing its total holdings to approximately 35,102 BTC as it progresses toward a goal of 210,000 BTC by 2027. Meanwhile, Strategy Inc. maintains its position as the world's largest corporate Bitcoin treasury, holding 687,410 BTC on its balance sheet after a recent purchase of 13,627 BTC.
At the time of reporting, Bitcoin's price was approximately $90,921, reflecting a 2.26% decline over 24 hours. Market analysts are watching key support levels between $88,000 and $90,000, with a reclaim of $94,000 seen as necessary to re-test recent highs near $98,000.
