As the year comes to an end, key players in the crypto market are already in position. On-chain data is telling an interesting story: whales are extracting an average of 12,000 BTC from exchanges daily, and exchange BTC balances have hit a five-year low. Meanwhile, Wall Street institutions are quietly changing their strategies—they are gradually reducing their Bitcoin holdings and increasing allocations in SOL and Ethereum. If you still have questions about the year-end market trend, the performance of these four tokens is likely to determine how many zeros will be in your account in 2026.

**Bitcoin: Whales vs. Miners**

The key levels are clear: 88,000 is support, 90,600 is resistance. The current situation is that once it falls below 88,000, there's no need to overthink the reaction—buying the dip has never been too late. Conversely, if it breaks through 90,600, the wave could attract a new batch of trend-following capital. The fact that exchange balances are at a historic low suggests that the real Bitcoin is flowing from the market into long-term holders' wallets.

**Ethereum: What Are Institutions Planning?**

A leading quantitative institution is increasing its Ethereum position through lending, which is a signal worth noting. The $4,000 level is critical—if technical breakout occurs, it could open up greater upside potential. It’s also worth noting that the stablecoin market share has exceeded 53%, and the countdown for Ethereum spot ETF approval has begun. These factors together give institutions ample room for imagination.

**SOL: Wall Street’s New Choice**

A globally renowned asset management firm has recently reduced its Bitcoin holdings while increasing its SOL allocation. This is no coincidence. The $120 support line is guarded by ETF funds; once stabilized, it often becomes a rebound point. The January Federal Reserve meeting and the upcoming ecosystem airdrop season could trigger SOL’s rally.

**BNB: An Opportunity That’s Easy to Overlook**

Among the top four cryptocurrencies by market cap, BNB is the only one that has not yet broken its all-time high. This in itself indicates something—there may be a value gap here. On-chain data shows that Gas consumption on a certain public chain has increased by 300% month-over-month, indicating rising on-chain activity. For medium- to long-term investors, buying on dips of around 5% and averaging in multiple times is a common holding cycle of 3 to 6 months.

**Several Pitfalls to Avoid**

A certain ecosystem token faces a $78.9 million unlock on January 1st, so it’s best to stay away proactively at that time. Two other projects face dual unlock pressures (at the end of December and early January), making recent entries riskier. However, if your risk appetite is high, a whale accumulation signal for a privacy coin is quite obvious; aggressive players might consider aiming for a $500 target. Another emerging project, after stabilizing above $0.85, could see technical targets move toward $1.4.

**2026 Timeline**

From January to February, the market will digest previous selling pressure, and mainstream tokens will become the main recipients of capital. Between March and April, if rate cut expectations heat up, the altcoin season will begin to warm up. The third quarter will likely see explosive growth in Bitcoin’s Layer 2 ecosystem and the implementation of related compliance policies. By the fourth quarter, institutional FOMO often drives the market to new all-time highs.

Remember, the market always rewards those who position themselves early. It’s not too late now.