Whales just changed the game under $110,000 — and they did it with size and leverage. As Bitcoin chops in a tight corridor, on‑chain flows show large wallets quietly rebuilding long exposure, trimming shorts, and leaning into accumulation below a round‑number level. With liquidation clusters stacked near $111,000 and $106,000, the next move could be a targeted liquidity hunt before any trend attempt. Here’s what the data says and how to position around it.

What Just Happened

One large address reportedly moved ~$10M in stables and opened a 6× long worth ~134 BTC (~$14M notional), while a well‑tracked whale reduced short exposure — easing immediate sell pressure and signaling intent to build into dips. Glassnode flagged an uptick in large‑ticket long entries below $110K, and derivatives positioning tilted slightly long with mostly flat to mildly positive funding.

This is classic controlled accumulation: big players scale entries to absorb offers, reduce slippage, and stabilize a base before seeking range expansion.

Why It Matters to Traders

Whales influence near‑term direction by absorbing supply and anchoring bids. The sub‑$110K zone is acting as an accumulation band, while the broader structure still shows weekly lower highs. On the daily, BTC holds above the 200‑day MA — a constructive long‑term signal — but confirmation requires a decisive break and acceptance above prior distribution.

In this environment, price often gravitates toward liquidity pockets to trigger stops and forced closes, producing sharp but brief spikes you can trade around.

Key Levels and Triggers

• $106,000: Dense downside liquidation cluster and sweep zone. A clean break/acceptance below defers the breakout case.
• $111,000: Nearby upside cluster; expect wicks and stop activity on approach/touch.
• $117,000: Mapped relief bounce target where breakdown zones may be retested.
• $140,000: Structural breakout. Sustained acceptance above implies trend expansion and higher highs.
• 200‑day MA: Trend anchor; losing it adds downside momentum risk.

Actionable Setup Ideas

• Range tactics: Fade wicks into $111K or into $106K sweeps with tight, predefined invalidations. Expect fast moves; trade smaller, aim for mean‑reversion to mid‑range.
• Liquidity hunts: Use liquidation heatmaps. If price taps a dense pocket and funding/futures skew reset, look for quick reversal entries with strict risk.
• Relief bounce: If acceptance above $111K, target the $117K retest. Move stops to breakeven on first reaction.
• Breakout‑retest: On decisive reclaim and hold above $117K, plan staggered adds only after a retest holds.
• Trend confirmation: Only size up on weekly close and acceptance above $140K. Systematic flows tend to chase new highs; ride, don’t front‑run.
• Invalidation: 4H acceptance below $106K invalidates near‑term bullish scenarios; reduce risk and reassess lower liquidity pockets.
• Risk controls: Keep leverage modest. Track funding, OI, and book depth. Rising OI with skewed funding warns of squeeze risk.

Risk Management First

A 6× long amplifies both P&L and liquidation risk; don’t mirror whale leverage without whale‑level risk tools. Thin books can accelerate moves around clusters, especially during off‑hours. News jolts and on‑chain whale transfers can shift liquidity targets in minutes — use alerts, keep stops mechanical, and avoid averaging down into accelerating moves.

Bottom Line

BTC remains range‑bound while whales accumulate below $110K. Expect targeted liquidity runs toward $111K and $106K until a decisive catalyst emerges. The market upgrades only on sustained acceptance above $140K; until then, trade the range, respect the clusters, and let price confirm your bias.

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