Headline: Shiba Inu stalls as whale withdrawals flip to fresh inflows — range-bound action likely to persist Shiba Inu (SHIB) has been trading sideways as a tug-of-war between whale accumulation and renewed exchange inflows keeps the market stuck in a tight range. What happened - Between June 2025 and early December, CryptoQuant’s Exchange Reserve data show SHIB held on exchanges fell from above 88 trillion to near 81 trillion tokens — a large-scale withdrawal that typically signals long-term accumulation by big holders. - Over that same stretch, SHIB’s price slid from above $0.000013 toward the $0.000008 area as reduced on-exchange supply wasn’t enough to sustain a bullish reprieve amid broader weakness. - After December 5, the trend reversed: Exchange Reserves stabilized and ticked up from roughly 81 trillion to about 82 trillion SHIB, indicating renewed inflows and a shift back toward liquidity on exchanges. Why it matters - The earlier outflows suggested whales were banking SHIB off-exchange, lowering available sell-side pressure. But the post-December inflows restored supply, reducing squeeze dynamics and capping upside. - With more tokens available on exchanges, short-term squeeze risk fell and price action gravitated toward range-bound trading rather than a sustained breakout. Current price action and technicals - Through late December and early January, SHIB consolidated between $0.0000083 and $0.0000089, reflecting trader indecision. - At press time SHIB traded around $0.0000086 after a modest bounce with limited follow-through. - Volume has been subdued and the Relative Strength Index sat near neutral — both pointing to fading momentum and a preference for chop over trend. On-chain context - Santiment data show whale transactions in SHIB jumped 111%, signaling renewed positioning by large holders. Yet this increase hasn’t translated into sustained directional moves. - Exchange Reserves hovering near 82 trillion suggest distribution pressure remains a factor. Because large wallets control a meaningful share of supply, relatively small shifts in their behavior can amplify price swings. Key levels to watch - Bull case: renewed, sustained outflows from exchanges coupled with higher volume could open a push toward $0.0000095, with $0.00001 as an upside extension. - Bear case: ongoing inflows and broader market weakness risk a break below $0.0000083, which could expose $0.0000078. - For now, consolidation is the path of least resistance unless whales resume steady accumulation, Exchange Reserves decline, and on-chain and on-chain volume expand. Bottom line SHIB is stuck in a delicate balance between whale activity and exchange supply. Until one side clearly dominates — sustained whale accumulation or significant distribution — traders should expect range-bound action and limited momentum. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and not investment advice. Cryptocurrency trading carries high risk; do your own research before making decisions. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news
