{"slug":"distribution","term":"Distribution","category":"Whales & On-Chain","definition":"Distribution is the phase where large holders sell positions into strength, unloading gradually to buyers drawn in by good news and rising prices — usually a choppy topping range. Price stalls despite bullish headlines, rallies fade fast, and on-chain data shows old coins and exchange inflows rising while price makes no progress.","street":"The good news at the top exists so someone can hand you their bags.","depth":["The mirror of accumulation: a choppy topping range where each breakout attempt fails faster than the last (the upthrust), volume runs heavier on the down legs, and CVD falls while price holds up — spot sellers unloading into derivative-driven pushes. On-chain confirmation: long-term-holder supply falling and exchange inflows rising while price makes no net progress for weeks.","Two ways to lose money here. Shorting the first upthrust — topping ranges routinely squeeze to one more high before letting go, and early shorts are the fuel. Or the costlier one: reading it as accumulation because 'support keeps holding', and buying the level everyone can see. The tell is behaviour, not the level — rallies sold instantly, good news that can't lift price. Wait for the range low to break, then short the retest, with size that survives being early."],"live":{"label":"Coins the whale board reads as distribution","href":"/tools/whale-alert"},"related":["accumulation","dormant-supply","divergence"]}