BTC 15-minute short-term surge of 0.92%: On-chain activity skyrockets and whale large-volume purchases resonate

On April 22, 2026, from 05:15 to 05:30 (UTC), BTC moved sharply upward within 15 minutes, with a return of +0.92%. The price range was 77512.5-78432.9 USDT, and the amplitude was 1.19%. The market saw clear abnormal activity, with on-chain activity and capital flow synchronously expanding.

The main driving force behind this abnormality was a synchronized surge in the number of active on-chain addresses and trading volume. Active addresses quickly rose from about 21,000 to about 32,000, and on-chain trading volume expanded from about 8,500 BTC to about 12,600 BTC, indicating a large influx of new users and a significant increase in liquidity. At the same time, whale addresses made 7 large transfers during this period (each 2,000-4,500 BTC), doubling compared with the prior period. Whale concentrated buying directly pushed the price up in the short term.

Second, a chain reaction formed between long position buildup in the futures market and the forced liquidation of short positions. Futures trading volume rose from about $2.3 billion to about $3.6 billion, and open interest increased in tandem. The forced liquidation amount of shorts increased from about $24 million to about $38 million, further accelerating the upward move as shorts were forced to close. In addition, stablecoin inflows increased from about $110 million to about $165 million, indicating new capital entering the market rather than internal capital rotation. Multiple factors combined to create a resonance effect.

In terms of risk warnings, the short-term expansion of on-chain activity and trading volume needs to be monitored to see whether it can be sustained. If subsequent capital fails to follow through, a pullback may occur. After whale concentrated buying, if there is large-scale selling, it could cause the price to drop rapidly. Current leverage risks are rising, and concentrated forced liquidation events in the futures market may intensify short-term volatility. Going forward, focus on the resistance level above $78,000, on-chain capital flow, and changes in the macro news landscape.