The Shiba Inu (SHIB) market just received a jolt.
A crypto whale has transferred more than 370 billion SHIB tokens to major exchanges Binance and Bitget, raising immediate questions across the memecoin community:
Is this preparation for a massive sell-off — or strategic positioning ahead of volatility?
After weeks of subdued activity, the memecoin market has suddenly rebounded, climbing roughly 3% in 24 hours as trading volume accelerated sharply.
Now, traders are watching closely.
What Exactly Happened?

On-chain analytics from Arkham Intelligence show that a whale wallet deposited:
- 203.53 billion SHIB (worth ~$1.2 million) in one transfer
- Additional SHIB totaling over 370 billion tokens
- Smaller allocations of Ethereum (ETH) and Pepe (PEPE)
But here’s what stands out:
The whale still holds approximately 371 billion SHIB.
This wasn’t a full liquidation.
It was a calculated move.
Why Exchange Transfers Matter

When large holders transfer crypto to centralized exchanges, it often signals:
- Intent to sell
- Liquidity repositioning
- Hedging via derivatives
Because no aggressive sell-off has followed yet, markets have not fully priced in bearish pressure.
That uncertainty is what fuels volatility.
And in memecoins, volatility can escalate quickly.
SHIB Price Reacts — But Faces Key Resistance

Despite the whale movement, SHIB showed surprising resilience.
Within 24 hours, the token rallied more than 7%, climbing from:
- $0.00000580 to
- $0.00000639
However, resistance is forming at this level.
Key Levels to Watch:
- Immediate resistance: $0.00000639
- Structural breakout trigger: $0.00000653
- Upside targets: $0.00000669 – $0.00000727
A confirmed breakout above $0.00000653 on the 4-hour timeframe could shift short-term structure bullish.
Failure to break resistance would increase attention on the exchange deposits.
Memecoin Market Faces Growing Scrutiny

The whale activity comes at a sensitive moment.
Segments of the memecoin ecosystem are facing scrutiny amid allegations of insider positioning around certain decentralized finance and prediction platforms.
Although no official findings have been announced, the controversy has:
- Increased retail caution
- Heightened volatility
- Amplified the impact of whale movements
- Intensified monitoring of exchange inflows
In this climate, large SHIB transfers carry greater psychological weight.
Strategic Hedge — Not Panic?
The near 50/50 split between deposited and retained SHIB suggests:
- Exposure reduction without full exit
- Liquidity preparation
- Balanced positioning in uncertain conditions
In volatile crypto markets, flexibility often signals strategy — not fear.
What Comes Next?
Three scenarios are emerging:
1. Gradual distribution creates short-term selling pressure
2. Stabilization as no major sell-off materializes
3. Acceleration upward if memecoin momentum strengthens
Memecoins remain sentiment-driven assets.
And sentiment shifts quickly.
For SHIB holders, this moment could define the next directional move.
Published: 26. February 2026