Altcoins Retreat While Whales Accumulate—What’s Next for the Crypto Market?

By: crypto economy|2025/05/15 20:15:05

TL;DRIn the past 24 hours, some of the most prominent altcoins have dropped by as much as 6%, following a wave of profit-taking after a macro-driven rally. Meanwhile, whales have accumulated more than 83,000 BTC, reflecting strong medium-term confidence. The upcoming inclusion of Coinbase in the S&P 500 could serve as the next major bullish catalyst for the entire crypto ecosystem.After a week of price surges fueled by favorable macroeconomic data and rising investor optimism, the crypto market appears to have entered a natural correction phase. Bitcoin has dropped 1.80% and now trades at $101,836.68, while Ethereum is down 1.97% to $2,544.42. Altcoins, however, have been hit even harder: XRP has fallen 5.49%, now trading at $2.46; BNB has shown more resilience with a slight 0.86% dip to $650.12; Solana has decreased 5.36%, currently priced at $169.92; Dogecoin is down 4.86% to $0.2238; Cardano has tumbled 6.03% and trades at $0.7649; TRON has slipped 2.07% to $0.2679; and Sui has experienced a 5.66% drop, trading at $3.70.Whales Accumulate While Retail Investors ExitDespite the pullback, it hasn’t been a red flag for everyone. According to data from Santiment, Bitcoin’s largest wallets, those holding between 10 and 10,000 BTC, have used the recent dip as a buying opportunity, amassing over 83,000 BTC in the last month. In contrast, small holders with less than 0.1 BTC have sold approximately 387 BTC, likely driven by fears of a market top and the urge to lock in profits. This divergence between institutional-style holders and retail investors suggests that while the general public steps back, the smart money is preparing for the next move.Coinbase In The S&P 500 Could Spark A New RallyAll eyes are now on May 19, when Coinbase will officially be added to the S&P 500 index. This landmark event could bring over $9 billion in passive capital flows from indexed funds and institutional portfolios. More than just a financial movement, this inclusion marks a symbolic milestone for the crypto industry, as it becomes further integrated into traditional finance.Despite the current correction, many analysts remain optimistic, pointing out that market fundamentals are still strong. This latest drop looks more like a technical breather than the start of a bearish trend. With whales buying, sentiment indicators still in greedy territory, and Coinbase’s inclusion on the horizon, the crypto market may be quietly setting the stage for its next major move upward.

On March 4, 2026, DDC Enterprise Limited (NYSE American: DDC) today announced preliminary, unaudited full-year financial performance for the year ended December 31, 2025. The company expects to achieve record revenue and record positive adjusted EBITDA, primarily driven by continued growth in its core consumer food business and overall margin improvement. The final audited financial report is expected to be released in mid-April 2026.

2025 Full-Year Financial Highlights

Revenue: Expected to be between $39 million and $41 million, reaching a new company high.

Organic Growth: Excluding the impact of the company's strategic contraction of its U.S. operations, core revenue is expected to grow 11% to 17% year over year.

Gross Profit Margin: Expected to be between 28% and 30%, reflecting continued operational efficiency improvements.

Adjusted EBITDA: The company expects to achieve a positive full-year result in 2025, a significant improvement from a $3.5 million loss in 2024, mainly due to rigorous cost controls and a higher-margin sales mix.

Core Consumer Food Business Performance

In 2025, DDC's core consumer food business maintained strong operational performance.

The company also disclosed Core Consumer Food Business Adjusted EBITDA, a metric that further excludes costs related to its Bitcoin reserve strategy and non-cash fair value adjustments related to its Bitcoin holdings from adjusted EBITDA to more accurately reflect the core business performance.

In 2025, Core Consumer Food Business Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be between $5.5 million and $6 million.

Bitcoin Reserve Update

In the first half of 2025, DDC initiated a long-term Bitcoin accumulation strategy, holding Bitcoin as its primary reserve asset.

As of December 31, 2025: The company holds 1,183 BTC.

As of February 28, 2026: Holdings increased to 2,118 BTC

Today's additional purchase of 65 BTC brings the company's total holdings to 2,183 BTC

DDC Founder, Chairman, and CEO Norma Chu stated, "We are proud to have closed 2025 with record revenue and positive adjusted EBITDA, demonstrating the steady growth of the company's consumer food business and the ongoing improvement in profitability. We are building a disciplined, growth-oriented food platform and strategically allocating capital to Bitcoin assets with a long-term view, aligning with our core beliefs. We believe that this dual-track model of 'Steady Consumer Business + Strategic Bitcoin Reserve' will help DDC create lasting long-term value for shareholders."

Adjusted EBITDA Definition
For the full year 2025, the company defines "Adjusted EBITDA" (a non-GAAP financial measure) as: Net income / (loss) excluding the following items:· Interest expense· Taxes· Foreign exchange gains/losses· Long-lived asset impairment· Depreciation and amortization· Non-cash fair value changes related to financial instruments (including Bitcoin holdings)· Stock-based compensation

About DDC Enterprise Limited

DDC Enterprise Limited (NYSE: DDC) is actively implementing its corporate Bitcoin Treasury strategy while continuing to strengthen its position as a leading global Asian food platform.

The company has established Bitcoin as a core reserve asset and is executing a prudent, long-oriented accumulation strategy. While expanding its portfolio of food brands, DDC is gradually becoming one of the public company pioneers in integrating Bitcoin into its corporate financial architecture.

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DDC Enterprise Limited Announces 2025 Unaudited Preliminary Financial Performance: Record Revenue Achieved, Bitcoin Treasury Grows to 2183 Coins