Bitcoin News: Wintermute Trims BTC Exposure As Japan Volatility Fears Build

Key Insights:

• In the latest Bitcoin news, Wintermute’s BTC USD sales increased as large firms reduced risk ahead of Japan’s rate decision.
• Jane Street activity and higher Japanese rates explain why Bitcoin is struggling near $90,000.
• Bitcoin holding above $89,000 shows caution, not collapse, as markets wait for clarity.

Bitcoin is seeing steady selling from large trading firms at a time when global markets are watching Japan closely. According to the Bitcoin news updates, market maker Wintermute has been selling BTC USD while Japan prepares for an important interest rate decision.

These events are not separate. They are connected through how global money moves.

When money becomes more careful, large firms act first. Bitcoin has not broken down yet, but this selling helps explain why the Bitcoin price has struggled to move higher in recent days.

Bitcoin News: How Wintermute and Jane Street Are Impacting BTC

Wintermute is one of the largest crypto market makers in the world. A market maker’s job is to keep markets running smoothly. It does this by always being ready to buy and sell Bitcoin.

Because of this role, Wintermute moves very large amounts of Bitcoin every day.

According to Bitcoin news, on-chain data shows Wintermute sending more Bitcoin to exchanges. In most cases, this means selling.

This does not mean Wintermute views Bitcoin’s upside as exhausted. Large firms often sell part of their holdings before uncertain events to reduce risk. At present, over $1.5 billion in BTC has been dumped.

Another firm involved is Jane Street. Jane Street is a global trading company that trades stocks, bonds, and crypto-related products. It uses computer-based strategies and often trades at specific times of day.

Traders have noticed that Bitcoin selling often increases near US market opening hours, which some link to Jane Street’s activity.

When Wintermute and Jane Street sell around the same time, Bitcoin finds it harder to move higher.

Even if many smaller traders are buying, the size of selling from these firms can slow price recovery in the short term.

Japan Rate Decision Shapes Wintermute Moves

Japan has kept interest rates close to zero for many years. This allowed investors to borrow cheap money in Japanese yen and invest it in other markets, including crypto.

This strategy helped support Bitcoin and other risky assets. Now Japan’s central bank is expected to raise rates toward 0.75%.

While this number may look small, it is a big change for Japan. Higher rates make Japanese investments more attractive.

This reduces the need to move money into global risk assets. Because of this, global trading firms expect money flows to change.

When less money moves into crypto, prices can struggle. This is why firms like Wintermute might be reducing its Bitcoin exposure before the decision is made.

This does not mean Bitcoin depends only on Japan. But Japan’s rate change adds pressure at a time when markets are already cautious.

In other Bitcoin news, the Bank of Japan (BOJ) is planning to start selling its massive ¥83 trillion ($534 billion) ETF holdings as early as next month. The move is part of the BOJ’s efforts to normalize its monetary policy and reduce its significant stake in the Japanese stock market.

Meanwhile, the BOJ will adopt a gradual approach, selling approximately ¥330 billion ($2 billion) worth of ETFs annually to avoid disrupting the market. This slow pace means it will take over 100 years to fully unwind its ETF holdings

Bitcoin Price Levels Signal What Matters

Despite selling activity, Bitcoin has stayed above the $89,000 level. Price has also tried several times to move back toward $90,000. This shows that buyers are still active at these levels.

The $89,000 to $90,000 zone is important. If Bitcoin can move above $90,000 and stay there, it would suggest that recent selling was only short-term caution from large firms.

If Bitcoin drops below $89,000 and does not recover quickly, selling could increase. This would signal that large firms are not yet ready to take on more risk.

For now, BTC USD is stuck between two price drivers. Buyers believe higher prices are possible, while large trading firms are waiting for clarity from Japan. Once Japan’s decision is clear, Bitcoin is more likely to choose a clear direction even with Wintermute dumping BTC.