David Bailey makes $760M Bitcoin buy, fueling institutional demand

Institutional BTC purchase news is shaking up the crypto market as David Bailey, CEO of Bitcoin Magazine and advisor to former President Donald Trump, gears up for a $760 million Bitcoin buy.

Scheduled for August 12, the deal will be executed through Bailey’s firm, Nakamoto Holdings, and marks one of the largest individual BTC purchases this year.

The Institutional BTC purchase is more than just a headline—it’s a calculated strategic move using a Volume Weighted Average Price (VWAP) trading method to prevent market slippage and avoid triggering sudden price spikes.

$760 million commitment to Bitcoin

Bailey had initially teased a $1 billion buy but clarified the final figure at $760 million. “We want to buy strategically, not recklessly,” Bailey stated in an X post. “This is a long-term play, not a pump-and-dump.”

Nakamoto Holdings, which has steadily grown its Bitcoin reserves through private placements, will allocate the full $760 million on day one, with future Institutional BTC purchases planned.

According to Glassnode data, large-scale acquisitions like this often create short-term market volatility but bolster long-term investor confidence.

Bailey’s decision aligns with an emerging trend of institutional Bitcoin buy activity from funds, corporations, and high-net-worth entities.

VWAP: A tactical play to avoid price shock

The VWAP strategy involves breaking the buy into smaller trades across the day, blending activity with market volume. This prevents “slippage”—the price creeping up before the purchase is complete.

“The VWAP approach is a common institutional method to minimize market disruption,” said Mark Palmer, Head of Digital Asset Research at BTIG, in an interview with Bloomberg. “In the case of a purchase this large, it’s essential.”

By adopting VWAP, Bailey hopes to avoid front-running, a tactic where traders anticipate and act ahead of large orders.

Political and regulatory backdrop

Bailey isn’t just a buyer—he’s a vocal Bitcoin advocate. As an advisor to Trump on crypto policy, he’s been pushing for a pro-Bitcoin legislative environment.

His recent discussions include the formation of a political action committee (PAC) to strengthen Bitcoin’s position in U.S. policy.

The timing of this Institutional BTC purchase is significant, given the U.S. regulatory scrutiny around crypto. Bailey has argued that clear policy frameworks will accelerate institutional adoption.

“Institutional BTC purchases are a sign that Bitcoin is maturing,” Bailey told CoinDesk. “We’re not here to speculate—we’re here to build the future financial standard.”

Market buzz and community reality

Crypto Twitter exploded after Bailey’s announcement, with some users calling it a “giga whale move” while others warned of the risks of publicizing trades in advance.

According to data from CryptoQuant, large transactions often precede both bullish rallies and short-term retracements, depending on liquidity conditions.

Some analysts expect Bailey’s move to boost Bitcoin’s price floor, while skeptics note that the Institutional Bitcoin buy could be neutralized by profit-taking.

Bailey’s Institutional BTC purchase is part of an even larger goal—he has publicly stated a long-term Bitcoin price target of $10 million per BTC.

Nakamoto Holdings plans to keep acquiring in stages, reinforcing its position as one of the largest private BTC holders in the U.S.

“The future is Bitcoin-denominated,” Bailey said during a recent Bitcoin Magazine Live broadcast. “This isn’t a bet, it’s a conviction.”

External analysts agree that the scale and method of Bailey’s acquisition could inspire other high-profile Institutional BTC purchases, potentially accelerating corporate adoption.