• Solana whales withdrew significant SOL from exchanges during the pullback, boosting holdings to $84.13 million.

• Institutions drove five consecutive days of Solana Spot ETF net inflows in December.

• Retail traders sold into weakness, with 1.31 million SOL sell volume versus 1.15 million buy volume on December 11, per Coinalyze data.

Solana price dip triggers whale buying frenzy and ETF inflows: Explore how large holders are positioning for recovery in this 2025 analysis. Stay informed on SOL trends—read now for key insights.

What is Driving Solana’s Recent Price Dip?

Solana’s price dip began two days ago when it attempted an upside move but faced rejection at $144, leading to a retrace below the $130 support level. As of the latest data, SOL trades at around $131, marking a 5.51% decline for the day and creating an accumulation opportunity near $129. This movement reflects broader market dynamics where institutional and whale activities contrast with retail behavior.

How Are Solana Whales Responding to the Pullback?

Large holders, often referred to as whales, have shown resilience during this downturn. Data from Onchain Lens indicates a prominent long-term Solana whale withdrew 101,365 SOL, valued at approximately $13.89 million, from the Kraken exchange. This transaction increased the whale’s total holdings to 628,564 SOL, equivalent to about $84.13 million. Of this amount, 519,217 SOL remains in a private wallet, while 109,348 SOL is staked to generate yield. Such accumulation during price weakness underscores a bullish outlook from sophisticated investors who anticipate a rebound. According to blockchain analytics, these moves often precede market recoveries, as whales position themselves ahead of retail sentiment shifts. The whale’s strategy highlights the network’s underlying strengths, including high throughput and low fees, which continue to attract development and adoption despite short-term volatility.

Source: X

Institutional interest further bolsters this narrative. Solana Spot ETFs have experienced net inflows for five consecutive days this December, according to SoSoValue metrics. Since their launch in late October, these ETFs have seen net outflows on only three occasions, demonstrating consistent demand from major financial entities. This sustained buying has pushed net total assets to $949.1 million, approaching the $1 billion threshold. Even as SOL’s price softened, these inflows indicate a commitment from institutions betting on the blockchain’s long-term potential in decentralized finance and Web3 applications.

Source: SoSoValue

However, this positive institutional activity contrasts sharply with retail trader behavior. While whales and institutions absorbed supply, retail participants have been net sellers. Spot Taker Cumulative Volume Delta (CVD) turned positive for the first time in nearly two weeks, a shift from prolonged seller dominance that had indicated more sell orders than buys in the spot market. Coinalyze data reinforces this, showing 1.31 million SOL in sell volume against 1.15 million in buy volume on December 11, resulting in a buy-sell delta of -158.77k. This retail selling has exerted additional downward pressure on the price, even as larger players scooped up tokens at lower levels.

Source: CryptoQuant

Source: Coinalyze

Momentum indicators provide additional context for Solana’s trajectory. Analysis using TradingView charts reveals a bearish crossover in the SMI Ergodic Indicator, which dipped to -0.103, confirming weakening momentum. Meanwhile, the Exponential Moving Average (EMA) and Moving Average (MA) have converged in a manner that intensifies short-term selling pressure: the MA stands at $135, while the EMA is slightly higher at $136.

Source: TradingView

These technical signals suggest that despite whale and institutional support, Solana’s price may face further downside if retail selling continues. Key support levels to monitor include below $130, potentially down to $123. For a bullish reversal, SOL would need to close above the EMA at $136 and push beyond $146, the site of its recent failed breakout. Experts from platforms like COINOTAG note that such divergences between holder classes often resolve in favor of larger accumulators over time, but short-term volatility remains a risk. Solana’s ecosystem, with its robust developer activity and growing DeFi TVL exceeding $5 billion as of late 2025, provides a solid foundation for eventual recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What caused Solana’s price to drop below $130 in December 2025?

Solana’s breach of $130 support followed a rejection at $144, driven by retail selling amid broader market caution. Whale accumulation and ETF inflows provided some counterbalance, but spot CVD indicators showed seller dominance, leading to a 5.51% daily decline to $131.

Are institutions still investing in Solana despite the price dip?

Yes, institutions have maintained strong interest, with Solana Spot ETFs recording five straight days of net inflows in December 2025. This has elevated total assets to $949.1 million, reflecting confidence in SOL’s long-term value even as prices weaken temporarily.

Key Takeaways

• Whale Accumulation Signals Bullish Confidence: A major holder added 101,365 SOL during the dip, increasing stakes to over $84 million, indicating expectation of recovery.
• Institutional ETF Inflows Persist: Five consecutive net inflow days pushed Solana ETFs near $1 billion in assets, countering retail sales.
• Bearish Indicators Suggest Caution: Monitor $130 support; a close above $136 EMA could shift momentum positively for traders.

Conclusion

In summary, Solana’s price dip in December 2025 highlights a tale of two markets: whales and institutions accumulating amid retail selling, with bearish momentum indicators like the SMI Ergodic and EMA-MA crossovers underscoring short-term risks. As ETF inflows near $1 billion and whale holdings grow, the network’s fundamentals remain strong. Investors should watch key levels closely for signs of reversal—positioning now could yield rewards in the upcoming recovery phase.