One overlooked group has added $1.78 billion of selling pressure to bitcoin market
Reported by CoinDesk · AI-assisted summary by ChikoCorp AI News Desk
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Summary
Public bitcoin miners have sold about 28,000 BTC in 2026, adding approximately $1.78 billion of selling pressure to the market. This selling is an underappreciated factor alongside outflows from ETFs and long-term holders contributing to bitcoin's price decline this year. Some large miners are exiting or shifting to AI, which has eased mining difficulty by around 18%, benefiting remaining miners.
Why it matters
The selling by public miners influences bitcoin's price at the margin, especially in a downtrend where buying interest is weak. This steady selling pressure is significant in contributing to bitcoin's poor price performance in 2026. The reduction in mining difficulty and rise in rewards following miners’ exit represents a market recalibration that affects profitability and mining economics.
Key context
Bitcoin's price has dropped about 27% in 2026, with major outflows from U.S.-listed spot crypto ETFs exceeding $4.4 billion forcing sales. Long-dormant holders and digital-asset treasury companies have also been selling. Public miners validate bitcoin transactions and receive freshly issued BTC, but many face production costs averaging $74,300 per bitcoin, leading some to pivot to AI using their energy infrastructure.
Key numbers and entities
Public miners sold 28,000 BTC in 2026, reducing their holdings from 127,000 BTC to 99,000 BTC. The selling amounts to $1.78 billion at current prices near $64,000 per BTC. ETF outflows total over $4.4 billion. Mining difficulty dropped approximately 18% from its November peak. Blockware Intelligence and Blockware Solutions provided the analysis.
What remains unclear
The source does not flag open questions or uncertainties explicitly beyond citing general market dynamics and miner behavior.