When the market is crying out, what are truly visionary funds doing? They are quietly accumulating.
You’ve seen the recent market movements—Bitcoin plummeting from its $126,000 peak, dropping over 30%. Market sentiment has almost instantly shifted from greed to fear. You’ll hear a lot of voices around: Is the four-year bull-bear cycle still reliable? Is this bull market really over?
But I see it differently. This correction is not an end-of-the-world judgment; in fact, it’s the best opportunity to get in—really.
**Why this bear market is different from previous ones**
Let’s review the history of the crypto world. What were those past bear markets like? True winters. Liquidity dried up, many projects went to zero, retail investors were completely wiped out. In 2022, Bitcoin crashed from $69,000 all the way down to $15,000. Many people wanted to buy the dip, but ended up getting crushed and doubting everything, finally getting liquidated at the bottom.
But now? It looks like a bear market again, but the essence has long changed.
Retail investors have learned to be smarter over these years, knowing how to operate during a bear. Meanwhile, institutions, listed companies, sovereign funds—big capital—have already been eyeing the bottom. They’ve been waiting for this moment.
**Stabilizers are kicking in**
Just look at the current data. Although the market is pulling back, the funds in spot Bitcoin ETFs haven’t exited en masse—$50 billion remains firmly in the market. What does this mean? It means institutional money has already entered the game.
What’s the biggest difference between institutions and retail investors? Their mindset. They don’t see Bitcoin as a quick-profit speculative tool, but as part of their asset allocation. So they won’t be scared off by short-term volatility; instead, they’ll use these opportunities to add more.
That’s why, even amid panic, there are still continuous inflows into the ecosystem. Institutional funds have become the stabilizers of the market—steadily absorbing the downward pressure at the bottom.
**On-chain data speaks volumes**
On-chain data more directly reflects this. Long-term holders’ chips are gradually being absorbed by retail investors. What does this indicate? It shows that the bottom’s chips are changing hands—from those who have already made enough profit to new institutional and smart retail players entering now.
By 2025, this change will be even more evident. The composition of market participants will be completely different, which will push this cycle’s ceiling far higher than before.
**What are the truly smart money doing**
So, when you see the market in chaos and retail investors cutting losses, what are the truly visionary funds doing? They are quietly building positions. During every panic sell-off, at every point where technicals look the worst.
This is not gambling; it’s understanding the market structure shift. Institutional entry has changed the game rules; the old ways of a bear market are outdated. Today’s bear market is essentially big fish eating small fish at low prices.
Understand this, and you won’t panic about the current market anymore.
This page may contain third-party content, which is provided for information purposes only (not representations/warranties) and should not be considered as an endorsement of its views by Gate, nor as financial or professional advice. See Disclaimer for details.
11 Likes
Reward
11
9
Repost
Share
Comment
0/400
GateUser-c799715c
· 01-08 22:47
Institutions are really quietly eating up, while retail investors are still running around cutting losses. LOL
View OriginalReply0
ProofOfNothing
· 01-08 22:02
I see your line of thinking, it sounds like you're just cheering yourself on haha
Are institutions really building positions? From what I see on-chain data, it still looks like whales are offloading...
The 50 billion ETF remains firmly in the market, where is this number from? Can you provide a source?
People who bottomed out in 2022 are now making a killing, is this the same story again? It's getting a bit boring.
Honestly, you see this kind of analysis in every bear market, but who is the big fish and who is the small fish isn't always clear.
Institutions may have a steady mindset, but whether they can make money is another matter. Don't treat holdings as faith.
View OriginalReply0
OnchainDetectiveBing
· 01-07 14:29
Institutions are eating up the chips, retail investors are cutting their losses, this is the entire game.
---
Wait, $50 billion is stable on the exchange? Then why do I see the number of holding addresses still decreasing?
---
It sounds nice, but in reality, it's just big fish eating small fish.
---
Everyone who tried to bottom fish has been caught now. Talking about institutional stabilizers now is a bit of a late realization.
---
On-chain data can lie, but wallet addresses won't. Are the smart money really entering now?
---
The lessons from 2022 are only a few years old, are we going to repeat them again? Is this time really different?
---
So basically, it's waiting for institutions to get off the bus, and retail investors to buy in again, right?
---
I agree with this view; indeed, large addresses are continuously accumulating, while small investors are crying.
---
The prediction that the ceiling will be high is a bit too optimistic; it depends on the Federal Reserve's stance.
View OriginalReply0
Degen4Breakfast
· 01-05 23:49
Institutions are really ruthless; retail investors are still cutting losses while they are buying the dip.
View OriginalReply0
WalletManager
· 01-05 23:48
500 billion stable support, this is the real signal. While retail investors are still cutting losses, we are increasing our holdings.
View OriginalReply0
ForkMaster
· 01-05 23:46
Uh... $50 billion staying firmly on the exchange just becomes a stabilizer? This logic sounds like the project team is hyping themselves up. If institutions really want to build positions, would they still be shouting about it here? The biggest lesson I've learned from raising three kids over the past few years is that the more loudly someone proclaims "smart money is positioning," the more you should consider doing the opposite. But on the other hand, on-chain data is indeed interesting, and the change of hands in chips is still worth watching.
View OriginalReply0
ShortingEnthusiast
· 01-05 23:46
Starting to talk about the institutional stabilizer again, but are there really so many people quietly building positions at the bottom? From what I see on-chain data, it still feels like a bunch of people are just cutting losses.
Don't make it so mysterious. Honestly, it's just betting that 2025 will go up.
Would it be so obvious if institutions really came in? No need to talk about it so much.
I've heard "this time is different" too many times, and in the end, it's just the same old tricks.
A 50 billion ETF can stabilize the market? I think your imagination is a bit too rich, buddy.
View OriginalReply0
MEVHunterNoLoss
· 01-05 23:41
Here we go again, talking about stories. Are institutions really that smart? I doubt it.
Everyone says they are building positions, but who is selling? That logic doesn't add up, brother.
Storing 50 billion steadily? But I see on-chain data constantly flowing out. The credibility of this data is a bit questionable.
It was the same story last year, and what happened? It still dropped, after all.
Most of the smart money has also been trapped. Let's not boast about each other anymore.
The idea of big fish eating small fish sounds good, but the small fish have already gone bankrupt. No one is playing with you anymore.
Reading too many of these articles can easily lead to bankruptcy. I'm serious.
View OriginalReply0
ruggedNotShrugged
· 01-05 23:27
It's the same old story, every time it dips they say institutions are accumulating. Is it real money?
The process of big fish eating small fish is just a more polite way of saying "cutting leeks."
Having 50 billion ETF stay on the exchange doesn't mean much; maybe it just hasn't moved yet.
Let's wait and see who will be the last to laugh.
When the market is crying out, what are truly visionary funds doing? They are quietly accumulating.
You’ve seen the recent market movements—Bitcoin plummeting from its $126,000 peak, dropping over 30%. Market sentiment has almost instantly shifted from greed to fear. You’ll hear a lot of voices around: Is the four-year bull-bear cycle still reliable? Is this bull market really over?
But I see it differently. This correction is not an end-of-the-world judgment; in fact, it’s the best opportunity to get in—really.
**Why this bear market is different from previous ones**
Let’s review the history of the crypto world. What were those past bear markets like? True winters. Liquidity dried up, many projects went to zero, retail investors were completely wiped out. In 2022, Bitcoin crashed from $69,000 all the way down to $15,000. Many people wanted to buy the dip, but ended up getting crushed and doubting everything, finally getting liquidated at the bottom.
But now? It looks like a bear market again, but the essence has long changed.
Retail investors have learned to be smarter over these years, knowing how to operate during a bear. Meanwhile, institutions, listed companies, sovereign funds—big capital—have already been eyeing the bottom. They’ve been waiting for this moment.
**Stabilizers are kicking in**
Just look at the current data. Although the market is pulling back, the funds in spot Bitcoin ETFs haven’t exited en masse—$50 billion remains firmly in the market. What does this mean? It means institutional money has already entered the game.
What’s the biggest difference between institutions and retail investors? Their mindset. They don’t see Bitcoin as a quick-profit speculative tool, but as part of their asset allocation. So they won’t be scared off by short-term volatility; instead, they’ll use these opportunities to add more.
That’s why, even amid panic, there are still continuous inflows into the ecosystem. Institutional funds have become the stabilizers of the market—steadily absorbing the downward pressure at the bottom.
**On-chain data speaks volumes**
On-chain data more directly reflects this. Long-term holders’ chips are gradually being absorbed by retail investors. What does this indicate? It shows that the bottom’s chips are changing hands—from those who have already made enough profit to new institutional and smart retail players entering now.
By 2025, this change will be even more evident. The composition of market participants will be completely different, which will push this cycle’s ceiling far higher than before.
**What are the truly smart money doing**
So, when you see the market in chaos and retail investors cutting losses, what are the truly visionary funds doing? They are quietly building positions. During every panic sell-off, at every point where technicals look the worst.
This is not gambling; it’s understanding the market structure shift. Institutional entry has changed the game rules; the old ways of a bear market are outdated. Today’s bear market is essentially big fish eating small fish at low prices.
Understand this, and you won’t panic about the current market anymore.