Bitcoin Institutional Buying Turns Positive Near $88K, A Signal Linked to 109% Average Gains

In the first week of 2026, data from Capriole Investments showed institutions purchasing more Bitcoin each day than miners added to circulation, with net buying exceeding new supply by 76% on one recent day. The firm's Net Institutional Buying indicator has now been positive for eight consecutive sessions, a pattern that previously coincided with average BTC price gains of 109% since 2020. After Bitcoin plunged nearly 40% from its October all-time high of $126,200, some analysts suggest the asset could revisit levels above $100,000 in January, although outcomes remain uncertain.