Bitcoin Outflows Hit Two-Year High as Regulation and Institutional Moves Reshape Crypto Markets

Bitcoin Sees Highest Exchange Outflows in Two Years

According to TradingView, Bitcoin has experienced its highest exchange outflows in over two years, with on-chain data from CryptoQuant indicating that net flows from all exchanges have dropped by more than 50% in the last year. The current net flow levels are so low that the last comparable period was January 2023, shortly after the FTX collapse. This trend suggests that investors are moving their BTC from exchanges to private storage, signaling a preference for accumulation over selling.

Whale activity has also intensified, with investors holding between 10 and 10,000 BTC purchasing a total of 19,255 BTC in just seven days. This buying spree coincided with an 11% rise in Bitcoin's price, which was trading around $94,578 at the time of reporting. The positive sentiment in the market has been partly attributed to Donald Trump's announcement of plans to reduce tariffs on China, hinting at a possible end to the tariff wars that began in January 2025.

• Exchange outflows indicate investor accumulation.
• Whale activity is driving bullish sentiment.
• Market optimism linked to geopolitical developments.

Key Takeaway: Bitcoin's highest exchange outflows in two years and significant whale accumulation point to strong bullish sentiment and potential for further price increases. (Source: TradingView)

Russian Crypto Exchange Mosca Raided Amid Cash-to-Crypto Ban Debate

FinanceFeeds reports that Russian authorities raided the Moscow office of crypto exchange Mosca as part of a fraud investigation involving a client. The incident is linked to a major scam in which Olga Serova, a former adviser to the Samara regional government, lost 421 million rubles (approximately $5.1 million) in cash to fraudsters. Seven individuals have been detained in connection with the case.

Mosca’s head of development, Dmitry Titarenko, described the raid as a “standard procedure” related to customer data checks. The exchange allows daily cash purchases of up to 100,000 USDT and claims to have strengthened its anti-money laundering protocols. The raid follows a proposal by Evgeny Masharov of the Russian Civic Chamber to ban cash transactions at crypto exchangers, aiming to curb fraud. Critics argue that such a ban could hinder legitimate crypto use, while the government is preparing to launch a state-sanctioned crypto exchange for qualified investors.

• Authorities intensify scrutiny of cash-to-crypto businesses.
• Potential ban on cash transactions at crypto exchangers under discussion.
• Government plans for a regulated crypto exchange for qualified investors.

Key Takeaway: The Mosca raid highlights growing regulatory pressure on Russia’s cash-to-crypto sector, with significant fraud cases prompting calls for stricter controls. (Source: FinanceFeeds)

Major Bitcoin Outflows from Coinbase and Binance Signal Institutional Activity

NewsBTC reports that over 35,000 BTC have been withdrawn from major exchanges in recent days, with Binance alone seeing an outflow of 27,750 BTC (valued at $2.63 billion) on April 25. This marks the third-largest net outflow in Binance’s history. Additionally, more than 7,000 BTC (about $66.5 million) have left Coinbase, a platform favored by US-based institutions.

Analysts suggest that these large outflows indicate institutional accumulation and could signal bullish sentiment. If the declining exchange reserves are matched by increased spot demand or ETF inflows, a supply squeeze may occur, potentially driving prices higher. At the time of reporting, Bitcoin was trading just below $95,200, reflecting a nearly 2% increase in 24 hours.

• Significant outflows from major exchanges suggest institutional accumulation.
• Potential for a supply squeeze if demand remains high.
• Bitcoin price shows resilience above $94,000.

Key Takeaway: Large-scale Bitcoin withdrawals from Binance and Coinbase point to strong institutional interest and the possibility of a supply-driven price rally. (Source: NewsBTC)

DePIN Altcoin XYO Surges Nearly 44% After Bithumb Listing

The Daily Hodl reports that XYO, the native token of the XYO Network, surged by nearly 44% following its listing on South Korean exchange Bithumb. The XYO Network focuses on decentralized data verification and is migrating to a new layer-1 chain, introducing a dual-token model with the new XL1 token. The original XYO token will remain on Ethereum and serve as an anchor for the new blockchain.

At the time of reporting, XYO was trading at $0.0154 and ranked 278th by market capitalization. Over the past week, XYO has gained more than 71%. The project’s move to a new blockchain and the high-profile exchange listing have contributed to the token’s rapid appreciation.

• XYO surges after Bithumb listing and network migration announcement.
• Dual-token model to be implemented with XL1 and XYO.
• Strong weekly performance outpaces broader crypto market.

Key Takeaway: XYO’s price rally highlights the impact of major exchange listings and network upgrades on DePIN altcoins. (Source: The Daily Hodl)

Regulatory Pressure Drives Users Toward Decentralized Exchanges

Brave New Coin analyzes the impact of new regulations, particularly the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, on the crypto exchange landscape. MiCA, adopted in 2023 and set for full implementation by late 2024, imposes strict requirements on centralized exchanges (CEXs), including authorization, EU presence, and robust AML/KYC procedures. These rules have led to the delisting of certain tokens, such as Tether (USDT), from CEXs for European users.

Decentralized exchanges (DEXs), which allow users to retain control of their private keys and often do not require KYC, are becoming more attractive as a result. Market data from April 2023 shows DEX trading volume reached 22% of CEX volume, up from 17% in early 2022. The report notes that DEXs offer privacy, access to a wider range of tokens, and self-custody, but face challenges such as regulatory uncertainty and user complexity. In the US, the regulatory environment is less unified, but enforcement actions against major CEXs have also driven some users toward DEXs.

• MiCA increases compliance costs for CEXs, driving users to DEXs.
• DEXs offer privacy, access to delisted tokens, and self-custody.
• Regulatory definitions of “decentralized” remain a challenge.

Key Takeaway: Stricter regulations are pushing a growing share of crypto users toward decentralized exchanges, with DEXs capturing a larger portion of trading volume, especially in regions with comprehensive regulatory frameworks. (Source: Brave New Coin)

Sources:

• Bitcoin Sees Highest Exchange Outflows In 2 Years, What This Means For Price
• Cyberattacks on Crypto Exchanges Are Spilling Over Into Global Markets, Research Finds
• Russian Crypto Exchange Mosca Raided As Government Weighs Cash-to-Crypto Ban
• Bitcoin Continues To Flow Out Of Major Exchanges — Supply Squeeze Soon?
• DePIN Altcoin Outpaces Crypto Market and Skyrockets by Nearly 44% Following High-Profile Exchange Listing
• Crypto Crossroads: Are New Rules Pushing Users Towards Decentralized Exchanges?