January was a highly volatile month for the cryptocurrency market. Early gains were quickly erased by a sharp late-month sell-off, with several major tokens wiping out weeks of upside in just a few sessions.
Amid this uncertainty, on-chain data suggests that crypto “whales” — large holders with significant capital — are positioning selectively rather than chasing short-term momentum.
As February approaches, whale wallets appear to be concentrating on three assets showing early signs of trend exhaustion and potential bullish reversal. Rising accumulation, declining selling pressure, and emerging bullish divergences indicate that large players may be preparing for measured recoveries, not speculative breakouts.
Shiba Inu (SHIB): Quiet Accumulation During Market Weakness
Shiba Inu (SHIB) has emerged as one of the more surprising names on whale watchlists heading into February.
Despite a generally weak January for altcoins, SHIB managed to post a ~3.3% gain over the past 30 days, making it one of the few large-cap tokens still closing the month in positive territory. This relative strength is now being reinforced by whale behavior.
Whale Activity and On-Chain Trends
Since January 27, whale wallets have increased their SHIB holdings from 666.05 trillion to 666.74 trillion SHIB, an addition of roughly 690 billion tokens. This steady accumulation suggests strategic positioning rather than short-term speculation.
Importantly, this accumulation coincides with a key technical setup.
Technical Structure and Momentum Signals
Between November 4 and January 25, SHIB formed a bullish divergence:
Price printed lower lows
RSI printed higher lows
RSI (Relative Strength Index) measures momentum. When RSI improves while price weakens, it often indicates that selling pressure is losing strength.
This divergence developed within a broader falling wedge pattern, a structure typically associated with bullish reversals once price compression resolves.
After the divergence was confirmed on January 25, SHIB printed two consecutive green candles, followed shortly by renewed whale accumulation beginning January 27.
While SHIB has retraced slightly since January 28, whale balances have remained stable — suggesting that large holders are waiting for confirmation rather than exiting early.
A similar bullish divergence is now forming again. For confirmation:
The next SHIB candle needs to close above $0.0000071
If confirmed, upside momentum could strengthen toward:
$0.0000091 (key breakout level)
Extension potential toward $0.000012
Failure to hold above $0.0000071 would weaken the bullish setup and increase downside risk.
At present, whale accumulation combined with improving momentum signals positions SHIB as a potential February recovery candidate.
Pendle (PENDLE): Whales Accumulate Into DeFi Weakness
Pendle (PENDLE) is another token drawing whale interest despite recent price softness.
Whale Accumulation
On-chain data shows that large holders increased their PENDLE holdings from:
181.54 million (Jan 27)
To 184.81 million PENDLE
This represents an accumulation of 3.27 million PENDLE, worth approximately $6.3 million at current prices.
This buying activity stands out given recent performance:
~6% decline in the last 24 hours
~5.2% decline over the past month
These losses reflect broader weakness across DeFi and yield-focused assets.
Technical Context
On the 12-hour chart, PENDLE is displaying early signs of a bullish divergence:
From November 14 to January 30, price made lower lows
RSI formed higher lows
For this setup to remain valid:
The current 12-hour candle must hold above $1.78
If this level is defended, the divergence remains intact, improving the probability of a trend reversal.
Notably, whale accumulation accelerated after January 27, following the earlier divergence signals that formed between mid-November and late January — a pattern often seen when larger players position ahead of confirmation.
Key Levels to Watch
Initial resistance: $2.08 (~14% upside)
Further targets: $2.38 and $2.87
A breakdown below $1.78 would invalidate the bullish thesis and reopen downside risk.
For now, PENDLE reflects a classic whale-led accumulation during weakness, supported by improving momentum conditions.
Cardano (ADA): Coordinated Whale Buying Near Structural Support
Cardano (ADA) has recently re-entered whale radar following coordinated accumulation across multiple large holder groups.
Whale Distribution Shifts
Wallets holding 1B+ ADA began accumulating on January 28
Holdings increased from ~2.93B to 3.18B ADA
Wallets holding 100M–1B ADA joined on January 29
Balances rose from 2.55B to 2.60B ADA
Combined, these two whale cohorts accumulated nearly 300 million ADA within 48 hours, suggesting a coordinated positioning shift.
Market Conditions
This accumulation occurred while ADA was under pressure:
~6% decline in 24 hours
~7.2% decline over the past month
On the surface, this does not appear bullish — but technical structure tells a more nuanced story.
Bullish Divergence Setup
Between December 31 and January 30:
ADA price formed lower lows
RSI formed higher lows
To confirm this bullish divergence:
Price must hold above $0.31
RSI should remain above its rising trendline and not fall below its December 31 level
ADA is currently trading near $0.32, keeping the structure intact.
Upside Scenarios
If confirmed:
First recovery target: $0.36
This level previously broke on January 22 and represents ~12% upside
A breakdown below $0.31 would invalidate the reversal thesis and weaken the whale positioning narrative.
Final Thoughts
Across SHIB, PENDLE, and ADA, whale behavior suggests a selective, data-driven approach heading into February rather than broad risk-on exposure. Rising accumulation during price weakness, paired with improving momentum signals, often precedes medium-term trend shifts — though confirmation remains critical.
Disclaimer:
This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency markets are highly volatile. Always conduct your own research and assess risk before making any investment decisions. The author is not responsible for any financial losses incurred.
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