News 
December 30, 2024 
3 min. 
In a recent post on X, analyst James Van Straten highlighted a fascinating trend involving Bitcoin long positions on the crypto exchange Bitfinex. He shared a chart to illustrate how movements in these positions often precede shifts in Bitcoin’s price.
The Role of Bitfinex Bitcoin Whales
According to the chart, Bitfinex long positions have consistently hinted at major price movements for Bitcoin. Van Straten observed that during the 2022 bear market, Bitfinex whales—large investors on the platform—opened significant bullish positions and held onto them until 2024.
When Bitcoin rallied in the first quarter of 2024, these whales took profits, closing a notable portion of their positions. Shortly after, Bitcoin’s price took a downturn.
During the consolidation phase that followed, these savvy investors began reopening long positions. As Bitcoin’s recent bull run gained momentum, they once again cashed in, showing what Van Straten described as “smart money behavior.”
Now, with these whales having realized their profits, Bitcoin is exhibiting bearish signs. The downtrend in Bitfinex long positions continues, suggesting these investors don’t currently see the right conditions for new bullish bets. While there’s always a chance they could be wrong, history has shown their movements often align with market direction. For Bitcoin to restart its upward trend, a renewed surge in Bitfinex long positions might be necessary.
Exchange Reserves and Market Sentiment
Meanwhile, another key metric, the Bitcoin Exchange Reserve, has seen an uptick. This metric tracks the amount of Bitcoin held in wallets across centralized exchanges. As noted in a CryptoQuant Quicktake post, these reserves recently rose by 20,000 BTC.
Increased exchange reserves can indicate selling pressure, as investors typically move their Bitcoin to exchanges when preparing to sell. This inflow could pose an additional hurdle to Bitcoin regaining bullish momentum.
Currently, Bitcoin’s price has been moving sideways, holding steady around the $96,000 mark over the past week. With market signals showing mixed trends, it remains uncertain whether Bitcoin’s next move will be up or down. The actions of Bitfinex whales and the movement of exchange reserves will likely play a pivotal role in shaping the cryptocurrency’s near-term direction.
