According to Santiment, capital is moving back into Bitcoin ETFs at a rapid pace while retail participants are exiting crypto, indicating a potential institutional-led shift in market flows, source: Santiment (@santimentfeed) on X and Santiment Bitcoin ETF dashboard. Santiment states that previous crypto rallies were boosted by spikes in ETF inflows, making the current acceleration a historically relevant signal for BTC momentum, source: Santiment (@santimentfeed) on X and Santiment Bitcoin ETF dashboard. For trading execution, Santiment’s data suggests monitoring sustained daily net inflows on the Bitcoin ETF dashboard as a confirmation tool for institutional demand versus retail capitulation, source: Santiment Bitcoin ETF dashboard. Traders can reference Santiment’s free Bitcoin ETF flows dashboard to track whether inflow momentum persists, which Santiment cites as a key backdrop in past BTC uptrends, source: Santiment (@santimentfeed) on X and Santiment Bitcoin ETF dashboard.

According to @alistairmilne, despite Michael Saylor’s ongoing Bitcoin accumulation, the market is not reaching new all-time highs due to widespread capitulation among retail investors who suffered losses in memecoins and lower-quality altcoins. This persistent selling from retail is counteracting institutional buying, resulting in a consolidation phase where only dedicated Bitcoin maximalists and strong holders remain. Traders should monitor on-chain metrics for signs of retail exhaustion and accumulation patterns, as these could signal a future breakout once weak hands have fully exited (Source: Alistair Milne on Twitter, May 18, 2025).

According to Crypto Rover on Twitter, most retail investors sold their Bitcoin holdings at recent market lows, which has historically signaled the end of bearish cycles and the start of significant rallies. Crypto Rover notes that Bitcoin is now positioned to break toward new all-time highs (ATHs), emphasizing that accumulation during these phases often precedes major upward price movements. This trend is crucial for traders as retail capitulation typically marks a strong entry point for long positions and could drive increased volatility and trading volume in the crypto market. Source: Crypto Rover (@rovercrc) on Twitter, May 12, 2025.

According to Crypto Rover, 99% of retail investors have already capitulated in the current bull market. This suggests that only a small portion of investors have remained, potentially leading to a surge when the market rebounds. Crypto Rover acknowledges those who have held on and indicates that the most profitable phase of the bull market could commence at any moment. This information is vital for traders assessing market sentiment and timing strategies.

According to Cas Abbé, Bitcoin is experiencing its largest supply crunch in recent history, with exchange supply dropping to a 7-year low. Long-term holders are actively accumulating, while the OTC desk balance has decreased by 300,000 BTC from its peak. Despite these developments, market sentiment remains very bearish, and retail investors are capitulating.