Bitcoin’s price is gradually picking up pace following a broader market recovery, allowing the largest cryptocurrency asset to revisit the $92,000 mark on Wednesday. Even though the price is showing strength, key investors are currently moving in the opposite direction of the trend, raising questions about the stability of the recent bounce.

Whales Slams The Brakes On Bullish Bitcoin Bets

Just as the price of Bitcoin staged a slight recovery, the derivatives market has shifted once again as investors make a sudden strategic retreat. On-chain metrics indicate that large BTC holders, also known as whale investors, are stepping back from their bullish positions, a clear sign of growing bearish sentiment.

After navigating the key Bitcoin whale vs. Retail Delta metric, Joao Wedson, an author and founder of the Alphractal analytics platform, disclosed that whales have closed their longs. This strategic pullback or shift in sentiment comes after a heavy positioning to the long side by the cohort.

While the retreat marks a notable change in market sentiment, it also suggests that large investors may be locking in profits or preparing for a potential deeper decline in BTC’s price. Wedson highlighted that while large players are currently starting to take some short positions again, retail investors are moving against them, indicating a clear disparity in sentiment between the two groups. 

Given that whale behavior has historically served as a leading indication for broader price action, this abrupt reversal raises further concerns about Bitcoin’s short-term trajectory. Following an exuberant surge, there are also concerns about whether the market is getting ready for a cooling phase.

The expert stated that the pattern of this metric against price actions looks somewhat similar to what was observed in February and April 2025. In other words, the price of BTC moving sideways longer than what most traders are anticipating is highly likely at this point.

Traders Calling For A BTC Rally

Overall, market sentiment appears to have recovered as Bitcoin traders become greedy, calling for more upward moves. According to a post from Santiment, a leading on-chain data analytics platform, BTC experienced a much-needed rebound back to the $94,600 price mark on Wednesday, which reinvigorated traders.

Interestingly, the brief bounce caused investors to Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) back in and look forward to the price of BTC going higher. Santiment’s social data, harvesting X, Reddit, Telegram, and other data, shows that calls for higher and above have increased dramatically.

High bars with blue shades indicate calls for lower or below, which is indicative of Fear Uncertainty and Doubt (FUD). It is worth noting that prices often rise as retailers offload their holdings. 

Meanwhile, high bars with red shades represent calls for higher or above, signaling FOMO. When calls for higher moves increase, prices usually correct as retailers attempt to acquire more BTC on the way up. During these kinds of occasions, it is crucial to know that markets move in the opposite direction to the behavior of small traders.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Strategy, Phong Le, has revealed the company’s long-term approach to its staggering Bitcoin (BTC) holdings. According to the Strategy executive, the firm currently has no immediate plans to sell any of its 650,000 BTC soon. He emphasized that only dire circumstances could force a Bitcoin sell-off—a scenario he projects will not occur for at least 40 years.   

Strategy CEO Confirms 40-Year Bitcoin Hold

In an interview with CNBC on December 6, Le addressed questions about Strategy’s approach to Bitcoin and the future of its massive BTC bet. When asked whether the firm would ever sell its BTC stash of 650,000 tokens ($60.29 billion), Le emphasized that they intended to hold onto their holdings for as long as possible.

The Strategy CEO emphasized that selling would only occur under extreme market conditions, such as losing access to liquidity or US dollars, or if Bitcoin derivatives could no longer be traded. He noted that such a scenario is unlikely until 2065 and, even then, would be considered only in the event of a prolonged 40-year market downturn. 

In another interview earlier this month, Le stated that if there is a sustained 3-year down cycle in Bitcoin in which the mNAV of MSTR trades below 1x, MicroStrategy may have to sell BTC. This means the earliest the company could sell a portion of its massive holdings is in 2029. 

Moving on, the CNBC interview touched on Strategy’s role in public capital markets and whether the company has become a proxy for BTC. Le explained that their Bitcoin treasury strategy, which began in 2020, was designed to give investors access to BTC through public equities. He noted that while the introduction of Spot Bitcoin ETFs in 2024 slightly changed the landscape, Strategy remains a significant part of the crypto and BTC ecosystem. 

Growing FUD And Long-Term BTC Growth

In the interview, Le revealed that Strategy had recently raised $1.44 billion in just over a week for its US dollar reserve, covering 21 months of dividends. The CEO explained that they raised substantial capital to address rising Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt (FUD) about the company’s ability to meet dividend obligations. 

Le stressed that, despite the current market downturn, the company had no plans to sell its Bitcoin stash to cover dividends, reassuring investors that its long-term holding strategy remains intact. He supported his views with a historical review of BTC’s broader performance, emphasizing that the leading cryptocurrency has grown by an average of 45% per year over the past five years. 

When asked about his price outlook for Bitcoin, the Strategy CEO expressed confidence in the cryptocurrency’s future, predicting that BTC will likely continue to rise over the next 20 years. He acknowledged that after 20 years, the market could evolve and innovations might emerge, but for now, Bitcoin has a long runway.