STH distribution spiked as Bitcoin rallies, signaling a potential market top and an upcoming correction post-October 2025.
STH Realized Price hits $94.5K, diverging from LTHs, suggesting weakening demand and rising sell pressure.
Bitcoin’s [BTC] rally is bringing short-term holders (STHs) back into the spotlight – and not for the reasons bulls might hope.
As prices soar, STHs are beginning to offload their coins, a pattern that’s often preceded by major market peaks.
With the Realized Price for STHs at $94.5K, the growing divergence from long-term holders (LTHs) raises a crucial question: is this a sign before a larger correction, perhaps just around the corner post-October 2025?
STH supply fails to rise
Recent data showed a stark deviation from past bull cycles: STHs are not accumulating even as Bitcoin trades near all-time highs.
In previous cycles, STH supply rose during price rallies, fueling momentum. This time, it didn’t.
Source: Alphractal
Instead, STH supply remained muted, mirroring late-stage patterns from previous cycles where coins change hands at the peak.
In contrast, LTHs are distributing, further highlighting the shift in conviction.
This lack of fresh accumulation showed that current demand may be fragile and foreshadows a top-heavy market.
When the STH supply starts to decline while price rises, it typically signals a slowing of demand and rising sell pressure – a sign of bull cycle maturity.
STH Realized Price nears spot
On top of that, the STH Realized Price has now reached $94.5K—historically a late-cycle marker.
Source: Alphractal
Many recent buyers are holding unrealized gains, signaling potential profit-taking.
Meanwhile, LTH Realized Price remains at $33K, forming a wide divergence.
Such a gap has often preceded corrections, especially when the STH band flattens or crosses spot price from above.
The $94.5K STH RP may serve as a final support before losses, a typical turning point in past cycles. However, the current setup suggests we’re beyond the bullish crossover and into distribution territory.
Distribution is heavy, but momentum loses steam
There’s a dominant wave of distribution from STHs, with red bars consistently outpacing green accumulation spikes since early 2025.
Despite Bitcoin’s strong price action, the persistent Net Outflows suggest that recent buyers are increasingly offloading their positions into strength.
Source: Alphractal
This pattern often precedes market cooldowns, especially with STH realized price above spot. Without renewed accumulation, the market may struggle to maintain current levels, as STHs use rallies as exit liquidity.
While a post-October 2025 correction seems likely due to fading demand and halving cycles, some upside may remain.
Samyukhtha L KM is a journalist with a keen eye on the ever-changing digital asset landscape - and a soft spot for memecoins. With a Bachelors in Commerce and a Masters in Journalism and Mass Communication, she’s always curious about whether the next big thing in blockchain is hype or history in the making. When she’s not tracking the latest market moves, she’s reflecting on what blockchain adoption really means in a world still largely rooted in traditional finance.