Bitcoin whales purchased over 270,000 BTC, valued at roughly $16.7 billion, during the two weeks ended July 3, 2026, as U.S. spot bitcoin exchange‑traded funds experienced a record $4.06 billion in outflows in June. U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs recorded a $4.06 billion outflow in June, the largest monthly withdrawal since their launch and pushing the aggregate fund balance negative for 2026. The outflow coincided with a two‑week period in which whales added more than 270,000 BTC, according to Bitfinex analysts. The analysts noted that the purchases were made while the spot premium stayed negative, indicating that the buying did not occur on spot exchanges. Bitcoin’s price fell toward a 21‑month low during the same span. At the same time, Solana rose approximately 15 percent since early June, driven by protocol upgrades and increased on‑chain activity of tokenized real‑world assets, while several Ethereum layer‑2 tokens declined to record lows after Coinbase’s Base network removed a shared technology component. Analysts said the pattern of large‑holder accumulation amid low institutional demand resembles previous cycles where long‑term holders step in before a price recovery. The next U.S. inflation reading, which showed a 4.2 percent increase in May, is expected to shape the Federal Reserve’s rate path and may relieve some of the pressure on bitcoin this month. Whether the whale buying will sustain a price rebound remains unclear as the market awaits the Fed’s decision at its July meeting.