Bitcoin's long-term holders (LTH) have ramped up accumulation to levels not seen in over six years, according to on-chain data from CryptoQuant. The LTH Net Position Change metric—which measures the monthly change in holdings of investors who typically hold through market cycles—flashed a significant green reading of 1.29 million BTC on May 24, 2026, surpassing the previous record set during the 2017 bull market.
This accumulation spree emerged even as Bitcoin traded near its weakest levels, with prices hovering around $58,000 before the data triggered a powerful 15% rebound that pushed the asset to $66,000. The sharp move caught many speculative traders off guard, as they had been distributing their holdings during the downtrend.
Key details: The strong green reading indicates that smart money holders are aggressively buying, while a red reading would signal selling. The latest spike in LTH accumulation suggests that seasoned investors view the market weakness as a buying opportunity. By reducing the available supply of Bitcoin on exchanges, this trend could underpin a further price rally toward $70,000 if buying pressure persists, analysts note.
This behavior mirrors previous cycles where LTH accumulation preceded major bull runs, though the current accumulation occurred well below the market's all-time highs—hinting at a potential bottoming process.
