Large Bitcoin investors will suffer millions of dollars in losses every day in 2026. Is there a risk of another sell-off in the crypto market after the weak first quarter?
• Bitcoin whales are under massive pressure in 2026
• Long-term holders sell at a loss in Q1
• Crypto market could see further downward movement
The Bitcoin market has had a difficult start to 2026 – and large investors in particular are under pressure. According to a report by Cointelegraph, so-called “whales” and “sharks”, i.e. investors with very large Bitcoin holdings, suffered huge losses in the first quarter of the year. The start of 2026 is actually one of the weakest periods for large Bitcoin investors since the bear market of 2022.
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Billions in losses for major Bitcoin investors
Investors with 1,000 to 10,000 Bitcoin are considered “whales,” while “sharks” hold wallets with 100 to 1,000 Bitcoin. Both groups were under massive pressure in the first quarter.
An analysis by Glassnode cited by Cointelegraph shows that sharks suffered an average loss of $188.5 million per day in the first quarter of 2026, while whales posted an additional loss of around $147.5 million daily. Combined, this amounts to around $337 million in recorded losses per day. In total, the realized losses of these two groups of investors in Q1 2026 add up to around 30.91 billion US dollars.
Experts warn: Bitcoin’s downward trend resembles the 2022 bear market
According to Cointelegraph, the current numbers are reminiscent of the crypto bear market of 2022. At that time, the Bitcoin price collapsed by more than 50 percent in the second quarter. It was triggered by several shocking events, including the collapse of the Terra ecosystem and the bankruptcies of Celsius Network and Three Arrows Capital. In comparison, the average daily losses of large investors at the time were even higher at around $396 million per day, it is said.
The market will also be under macroeconomic pressure in 2026. Stressors include geopolitical tensions, inflation concerns and technological risks such as the potential impact of quantum computing on crypto security.
Long-term investors are increasing selling pressure
Another warning signal comes from long-term Bitcoin holders. According to Glassnode, the Long-Term Holder Realized Loss metric shows that investors who have held their coins for more than six months are increasingly selling at a loss. The corresponding indicator has been around $200 million per day on a 30-day average since November 2025.
“A significant slowdown to levels below $25 million per day would be a more convincing signal that selling pressure has exhausted,” Glassnode analysts wrote in their weekly market report. Only then can a sustainable bottoming out on the market develop.
Some analysts therefore believe a further correction is possible. According to Cointelegraph, citing expert estimates, Bitcoin price could make a possible low in the $40,000 to $50,000 range later this year before a new long-term uptrend is established.
Bettina Schneider, editorial team at finanzen.net
This text is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an investment recommendation. finanzen.net GmbH excludes any claims for recourse.
