Accumulation, distribution and net flow
Turning many moves into one reading: net flow, accumulation share, and the traps in both.
Adding moves up
Group a token’s moves over a window. The accumulation side is exchange withdrawals plus DEX buys; the distribution side is exchange deposits plus DEX sells. Net flow is accumulation minus distribution. The accumulation share is the accumulation side as a percentage of both sides together.
Three traps
One wallet can be the whole story. A $6M net figure from a single wallet is a different fact from $6M spread across 40 wallets. Always check the wallet count.
The window changes the answer. A token can lean accumulation over 24 hours and distribution over 30 days. Say which window you mean.
Size versus share. 95% accumulation share on $20K of flow is noise; 60% on $50M is a real lean. Read both numbers together.
What it is and isn’t
Net flow describes what tracked wallets did. It doesn’t say what they will do, and it doesn’t move price by itself. Treat it as one input that you check against other facts.
Try it on a live page
- Find the token with the largest net flow over 24 hours. How many wallets were behind it?
- Switch the window to 7D or 30D. Does the same token still lead?
- Pick a token with a high accumulation share but small flow. Would you call that a meaningful lean? Why?
Check yourself
1. Net flow is…
2. A token shows +$5M net flow from one wallet. What should you check next?
3. Which statement is accurate?
Go deeper
How to Spot Whale Accumulation on Ethereum: 5 On-Chain Signals That Matter →How to Read Whale Net Position Change: Glassnode Metrics Explained + Free Alternatives → Glossary: accumulation side →Glossary: distribution side →Glossary: net flow →Describes past on-chain activity and how our data is built. Not investment advice. Method details: data methodology.
