Retail traders show minimal activity

A new trend was outlined on the crypto ripe: institutional investors seized the initiative, while retail traders still remain aside. According to Matrixport of May 14, 2025, despite the growth of bitcoin quotations (BTC) to new record values, retail volumes, especially in South Korea – one of the most active markets, remain low.

The published schedule of experts clearly shows that the volumes of transactions on Korean exchanges are significantly lagging behind previous peaks observed at the beginning and end of last year. At the same time, the Bitcoin funding rate (BTC Funding Rate) continues to rise, which indicates high activity from institutional investors and large corporate buyers. This confirms the conclusion that the current growth of quotations is provided by the institutional participants.

Analysts note: historically retail investors are connected to bull trends in the later stages, providing the final price impulse in front of the local peaks. Similar situations have already been observed in past market cycles and could precede corrections after overheating. Experts suggest that this time retail can enter the market near a new price maximum.

The weak activity of traders at the current stage creates the risk of a unilateral market, where the dynamics of prices form a limited number of large participants. This increases volatility and can lead to sharp movements in both directions when changing moods among institutionals.

Thus, the current bitcoin rally is accompanied by a noticeable displacement of the structure of the participants. Funds and companies play a leading role, while retail investors observe growth from the side, possibly preparing for the next wave of entering the market at the final stage of the bull market.