What Crypto Whales Are Buying and Selling Ahead Of The January US CPI Print
The January US CPI print is approaching at a delicate second for markets, and crypto whales are already positioning. Inflation is predicted to remain regular, broadly according to November’s cooling information. But nonetheless high sufficient to maintain early-2026 rate-cut hopes muted. November’s softer CPI did not shift Federal Reserve expectations, leaving liquidity circumstances tight.
In this backdrop, whale habits issues greater than value alone. When rate-cut optimism is low, massive holders are likely to act selectively moderately than chase danger. Ahead of the CPI launch, on-chain information exhibits a transparent cut up between three tokens. Crypto whales are accumulating two whereas decreasing publicity to the third one after a current rally.
Maple Finance (SYRUP)
Among the tokens whales are positioning round forward of the CPI print, Maple Finance (SYRUP) stands out as a DeFi-focused guess moderately than a macro one.
Over the previous 24 hours, Maple Finance whale wallets elevated their holdings by 7.41%. That equals about 480,000 SYRUP added, value roughly $0.19 million on the present value.
On its personal, the one-day addition seems modest. But context issues.
On a 30-day foundation, Maple Finance whale balances are up over 718%, displaying regular and persistent accumulation moderately than reactionary shopping for.
Price motion helps this habits.
SYRUP is up practically 40% over the previous 30 days (highlights continued conviction shopping for from whales), climbing from round $0.23 to $0.40 since early December. This transfer has been structurally supported by development indicators on the chart.
An EMA, or exponential transferring common, provides extra weight to current costs and helps outline development course. On SYRUP’s every day chart, the 20-day EMA has crossed above the 50-day and 100-day EMAs, a sequence that always indicators strengthening upside momentum. The value is now buying and selling above all main EMAs, maintaining the development firmly bullish. Plus, the 20-day EMA is closing in on the 200-day EMA, one other bullish crossover within the making.
The subsequent problem sits at $0.40, which has acted as a powerful resistance and rejected value on January 12. A clear every day shut above this stage, roughly a 3.8% transfer, would open the trail towards $0.46, adopted by a possible extension to $0.50 if momentum holds.
Downside danger stays managed however clear. Losing $0.36 could be the primary warning signal. A deeper transfer under $0.34 would push the value again beneath key EMAs, weakening the bullish construction and exposing a pullback towards $0.30.
Chainlink (LINK)
Chainlink is seeing quiet whale positioning forward of the US CPI print, suggesting selective accumulation moderately than broad risk-on habits.
Over the previous 24 hours, crypto whale wallets elevated their LINK holdings from 503.12 million to 503.51 million, including roughly 390,000 LINK or $6.6 million in recent shopping for. This issues as a result of early-2026 rate-cut expectations stay low, which often limits aggressive positioning. Instead, crypto whales look like leaning towards infrastructure names tied to the real-world asset narrative, a theme that stayed robust by 2025 and continues into 2026.
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The LINK price structure helps that positioning. Chainlink is forming a double backside on the 12-hour chart, a W-shaped base that always indicators vendor exhaustion.
Price has stabilized after the second low and is now grinding greater. For momentum to construct, LINK should first clear $13.50, adopted by the extra vital $14.90 stage, which has capped upside repeatedly. A clear 12-hour break above $14.90 would open the trail towards $15.50 and $17.01, with greater resistance ranges close to $19.56 coming into view if follow-through holds.
Risk stays outlined. A drop under $12.90 weakens the restoration, whereas a lack of $11.70 would invalidate the double-bottom construction solely.
Polygon Ecosystem Token (POL)
Polygon ecosystem token (POL) has seen a pointy shift in whale habits simply forward of the US CPI print. While POL stays up round 20% on the week, the token has slipped practically 4% over the previous 24 hours.
During this pullback, large crypto whales holding between 10 million and 100 million POL have began decreasing publicity after growing holdings between January 10 and January 12. Over the previous day, this cohort lower holdings from 585.39 million POL to 582.37 million POL, a discount of about 3.02 million tokens.
The timing is notable, as this promoting follows a powerful multi-day rally.
The POL value construction helps clarify the warning. POL surged sharply from early January lows, forming a steep pole, adopted by a good consolidation that resembles a bullish flag.
However, the pullback from the highs has been aggressive moderately than managed. At the identical time, On-Balance Volume (OBV), which tracks whether or not quantity confirms value course, has rolled over and is now sitting close to its rising development line. This indicators that purchasing strain is weakening at the same time as the value makes an attempt to carry its vary. A trendline breakdown might weaken the construction additional.
If POL loses $0.14 and then $0.13, the flag construction dangers invalidation, opening draw back towards $0.11 and probably $0.09. A bullish continuation solely regains credibility above $0.16, supported by enhancing quantity.
For now, whale promoting suggests the current transfer within the Polygon ecosystem token seems extra cyclical than conviction-driven, particularly forward of a significant macro occasion like CPI.
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