According to flow data, Bitcoin miner withdrawals, exchange outflows, cold storage accumulation point to reduced sell-side liquidity, per Glassnode data.According to flow data, Bitcoin miner withdrawals, exchange outflows, cold storage accumulation point to reduced sell-side liquidity, per Glassnode data.

Bitcoin sees miner withdrawals; 36K BTC exit exchanges

2026/02/18 07:57
3 min read

Reports of 36K BTC miner outflows imply lower sell pressure

When miners pull coins from exchanges into self-custody, the immediately available supply to sell can decline. With fewer coins sitting on order books, near-term sell pressure may ease, all else equal.

However, withdrawals alone do not guarantee upward price action. Miners routinely rebalance treasuries, rotate custodians, or conduct internal wallet reorganizations that do not reflect a directional market view. Interpreting intent requires separating miner-to-exchange flows from broader exchange movements and considering time frames.

A key nuance is timing. Even if outflows reduce near-term supply, miners can still sell later if economics worsen, turning an apparent supply squeeze into deferred supply. Assessing miner health, operating margins, and treasury policies helps contextualize whether outflows signal conviction or precaution.

Why miner cold storage accumulation can be bullish or neutral

Cold storage accumulation by miners can be read as constructive because it moves inventory into less liquid venues and may reflect a preference to hold rather than sell. If this behavior persists alongside steady or rising demand, the reduced float can support firmer market depth and lessen sensitivity to sell spikes.

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The same pattern can be neutral when it stems from custody upgrades, concentration of reserves for auditing, or routine wallet maintenance. In these cases, on-chain movement changes where coins are held, not miners’ selling intent or the market’s net supply.

Context matters for durability. If hashprice or revenue per terahash compresses, energy costs rise, or financing windows narrow, miners may need to monetize reserves despite prior accumulation. That path would reintroduce supply, potentially over multiple tranches rather than a single event.

Verify the claim: miner withdrawals vs total exchange outflows

Based on data from CryptoQuant, miners withdrew more than 36,000 BTC from exchanges since the beginning of February, indicating a marked uptick in miner-specific outflows within that window. This figure addresses miner behavior directly and should be distinguished from broader exchange metrics that include all cohorts.

“As reported by CryptoPotato, ‘More than 36,000 BTC left exchanges this month as miners shifted holdings to cold storage, hinting at bullish expectations ahead.’” This framing references exchange-wide movements while linking them to miner activity, but totals can overlap across categories and may not be strictly miner-only.

Verification hinges on definitions and methodology. Miner-to-exchange flow data isolates addresses associated with mining entities; total exchange outflows capture all wallets withdrawing from exchanges, including institutions and long-term holders. Time frames, address labeling accuracy, and internal exchange wallet reorganizations can further skew comparisons.

As broader market context at the time of this writing, Bitcoin changes hands near $67,515, with sentiment described as bearish and 30-day volatility around 12.17% in the same dataset. In public miner equities, Marathon Digital Holdings (MARA) recently traded near $7.52 after hours amid capacity competition and regulatory scrutiny in France affecting a prospective asset, according to Yahoo Finance.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or trading advice. Cryptocurrency markets are highly volatile and involve risk. Readers should conduct their own research and consult with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions. The publisher is not responsible for any losses incurred as a result of reliance on the information contained herein.
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