BTC drops sharply by 0.38% in 15 minutes: whale activity accelerates, plus ongoing ETF outflows, weighing on the short term

From 13:15 to 13:30 UTC on May 26, 2026, BTC fell 0.38% within 15 minutes; the price dropped from $77,094 to $76,793, with a range of 0.39%. This spike occurred against a backdrop of relatively weak mid-term technical outlook for Bitcoin and continued outflows of institutional capital. Although the decline was relatively limited, on-chain data showing sell-pressure signals is worth watching closely.

The main driver of this move is that whales accelerated deposits of assets into exchanges. The All Exchanges Whale Ratio has risen to the highest level in ten months, indicating large holders are deploying Bitcoin to trading platforms at scale. The weekly average BTC inflow to a major exchange surged from 378 BTC on May 16 to 1,190 BTC recently; daily inflows peaked at over 3,600 BTC, and the average deposit size increased from 8–10 BTC at the start of the year to 22–26 BTC. This metric is commonly interpreted by the market as a sign that potential sell pressure may be strengthening.

Meanwhile, continued outflows of institutional funds are creating a resonance effect. US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded net outflows for 6 consecutive trading days from May 15 to May 22, with total net redemptions of $1.26 billion, indicating institutional investors are lacking buying appetite at current price levels. In addition, stablecoin inflows have remained weak, limiting the spot market’s ability to absorb buy orders and effectively hedge against sell pressure. On the technical side, Bitcoin’s short-term support is at $75,000, resistance at $78,300, and the mid-term assessment is bearish.

Current volatility risk remains. If the $75,000 key support level breaks, it could trigger further selling. Given that exchange inflows continue to rise while institutional capital outflows have not reversed, the price may face continued short-term pressure. Key items to watch include subsequent changes in exchange reserves, stablecoin inflow conditions, and the battle around the $75,000 support level; it is recommended to closely monitor shifts in on-chain capital flows.