Retail Traders Now Dominate Bitcoin Futures as Order Size Shrinks to $2,000

Bitcoin is trading around 130,000, which is a rise compared to the previous January of 2024 of 45,000. A multitude of new retail investors were drawn into the rally. These traders came in with smaller and highly leveraged positions. The chart by CryptoQuant represents this transition. At the beginning of 2024, whale-sized orders prevailed. By the middle of 2025, the retail activity had assumed control.

吴说获悉，CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju 表示，目前 BTC 期货合约交易者主要是散户，平均订单规模已从今年年初的 6,000 美元缩减至 2,000 美元。 https://t.co/4H2HRdtjzN pic.twitter.com/IgEQwL1QSA

— 吴说区块链 (@wublockchain12) October 15, 2025

Statistics Show Divergent Change

The chart is in the form of colored bubbles that are used to indicate the sizes of order. Green indicates huge whale trade. The early 2024 bitcoin statistics contained numerous green bubbles. The end of 2025 is red with some bubbles. The change of color proves dominance of retailers.

The shift is evidenced by the average size of trade falling to $2,000. Whales and funds were substituted by smaller traders. Large investors decreased exposure towards the peaks of Bitcoin. Retail traders came late and many made profits. This trend reflects the past bull cycles. Retail energy contributes to price rallies, but creates instability.

Markets with retailers are Highly Volatile

Retail traders tend to trade on a high leverage. They tend to open between 10x-50x. This produces powerful price patterns. Even minor down turn can result in mass liquidations. The 10% intraday bitcoin movements attest to the growing volatility. The cycle came to a close with a big correction. The present arrangement is similar to that time. The data supports that view.

Much the same can be said about Asian exchanges such as Binance and Bybit. The sizes of orders there are minimal of the entire region. The crypto restrictions in China drove most whales out. American businesspeople usually wake up to drastic price drops. In Thailand and Korea, retailing is also performing well. The volume of bitcoin trading is high during evening hours when retail activities are on the peak. Analysts attribute this change to improved access to apps and hype on social media.

History of CryptoQuant

CryptoQuant has maintained the position of a reliable market analytics source. His previous predictions have worked in many cases. He had earlier forecasted resistance of about bitcoin $135,000. It is now trading in the market slightly under that point. Another warning is given by his comment on smaller order sizes. It reveals a scenario of traders who enter with less capital but a greater risk. The trend of the order size is not local but global in nature. This reflects on wider use of easy-to-use crypto trading applications.

The market of Bitcoin is good but volatile. The fluctuations of euphoria can last as late as 2025. The most obvious signal is provided by the information on CryptoQuant. The reduction of the order size by 6,000 to 2,000 is drastic. It reflects the sentiment of 2025, the jammed optimism on shaky grounds. It is this bull market that thrives on the retail energy and it can also push its boundaries shortly.

Analysts and Regulators

Since the beginning of 2025, the institutional future activity has declined. Bitcoin ETFs and spot positions are now the favorites of funds. This transformed the price action of Bitcoin. Movements are quicker, sharper and more difficult to anticipate. Retail traders usually make emotional trades. This creates less stable market reactions. Even the slightest rumors or liquidations lead to drastic price changes. Analysts caution that this may curtail a further rise of Bitcoin past the 135,000 point. The CFTC of the United States, the Thai SEC and the Korean FSC also gave warnings on leverage. Several transactions display risk notices in front of orders. The CEO of CryptoQuant is also on the alert as well.