- Altcoin volumes on Binance fell nearly 50% since November as capital rotates back to Bitcoin for stability.
- Bitcoin trades $65K–$72K, attracting whales, long-term holders, and institutions amid market uncertainty.
- Altcoins face 13 months of continuous selling; smart money has exited, leaving limited buying support.
Crypto investors are rushing back to Bitcoin amid shrinking altcoin activity, signaling a major rotation in market capital.
According to CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost, this trend has appeared repeatedly during previous corrective phases, including April 2025, August 2024, and October 2022 near the end of bear markets. On Binance, altcoin trading volumes have dropped almost 50% from November to mid-February, while Bitcoin regained dominance in exchange activity.
Bitcoin now trades between $65,000 and $72,000, a range attracting whales, long-term holders, and institutional investors. Darkfost highlighted, “It is particularly striking to observe how Bitcoin’s share of trading volume increases during periods of uncertainty and market stress.” Hence, investors naturally gravitate toward BTC as a safe-haven asset, reinforcing its status as the market’s central benchmark.
Altcoin Sell Pressure Hits Five-Year High
Meanwhile, CryptoQuant analyst IT Tech reports that altcoins are facing unprecedented sell pressure. According to IT Tech, “Retail is out. Smart money rotated. No institutional alt accumulation in sight. This is not a dip. It’s 13 months of continuous net selling on CEX spot.”
The total difference in the buying and selling of altcoins, excluding Bitcoin and Ethereum, has dived to -$209 billion since January 2025. As a result, the data indicates that retail investors have withdrawn, and smart money has turned its attention to Bitcoin.
Ethereum trading volumes also lag behind Bitcoin’s recovery, representing 27.8% of total Binance activity, while altcoins fell to 33.6% from 59.2% in November. Additionally, Bitcoin trading volumes on Binance now account for 36.8% of total exchange volume, confirming a clear market preference for the leading cryptocurrency during volatile periods.
