Shiba Inu Holders Are Pulling Tokens Off Exchanges
On-chain data from CryptoQuant shows nearly 490 billion $SHIB leaving trading platforms as exchange reserves hit 2026 lows, signaling a shift toward self-custody despite ongoing price weakness.

Nearly 490 Billion SHIB Leaves Exchanges
Shiba Inu holders are moving tokens off centralized trading platforms at an accelerating pace. According to CryptoQuant trending metrics cited by U Today, total $SHIB exchange outflows reached close to 490 billion tokens in a sharp surge, with exchange reserves continuing to fall in parallel. The data points to tokens leaving platforms gradually rather than being lined up for immediate sale.
The broader trend has been building for months. Over 374 billion SHIB exited exchanges in a single week in May 2026, one of the largest outflows recorded this year, pushing exchange reserves to a yearly low of roughly 82.31 trillion tokens. A single large transfer stood out: a whale moved 134 billion SHIB from Binance to a private wallet on May 10.
Reduced Sell Pressure, But Questions Remain
When holders transfer tokens to private wallets, coins are effectively removed from the immediate selling pool. Assets held in cold wallets or decentralized storage tend to stay dormant longer than those sitting on exchanges, where they remain liquid and ready to trade. That dynamic typically eases near-term sell pressure, even if it does not guarantee a price recovery.
The divergence between outflow activity and price performance is notable. SHIB has remained under pressure technically, having repeatedly failed to reclaim resistance near its 200-day moving average. Yet exchange balances keep declining, which some analysts read as quiet accumulation by larger holders positioning for a later-cycle move. Others offer a more cautious view: significant withdrawals do not always reflect bullish intent. Whales sometimes redistribute wallets, shift assets between custodians, or prepare to deploy capital elsewhere in DeFi.
The overall exchange netflow for SHIB remains negative, meaning more tokens are leaving platforms than entering them. Whether that tightening supply eventually translates into upward price pressure will depend heavily on whether broader demand for meme coins picks up from current levels.
Sources:
U Today: Shiba Inu (SHIB) Outflows Spike as Traders Rush to Self-Custody
CoinMarketCap: Latest Shiba Inu News and Market Insights
CryptoQuant: SHIBA INU Exchange Flows
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Author
Soumen DattaSoumen has been a crypto researcher since 2020 and holds a master’s in Physics. His writing and research has been published by publications such as CryptoSlate and DailyCoin, as well as BSCN. His areas of focus include Bitcoin, DeFi, and high-potential altcoins like Ethereum, Solana, XRP, and Chainlink. He combines analytical depth with journalistic clarity to deliver insights for both newcomers and seasoned crypto readers.












