Bitcoin pumps when there is a high demand for it, forget about whales bla bla bla. Come to think of it, if whales pump bitcoin and non whales refuse to buy it, what happens?
The number of people that exited crypto currency this year is when it was at the peak.
Many, I repeat many left crypto this year and might not come back.
What gives crypto curency demands

HYIP platforms, ponzi platforms, Matrix platforms, etc. All these have faded and ended.
Same time 2016 btc was on the go despite the xmas cash out because there was high demand based on the above listed platforms functioning well.
Btc dipped last December and failed to rises because all those platforms are dead including staking coins like bitconnect.
Now the answer is what is the demand of bitcoin, forget about proposed demands, forget about block chain this and that adopted by countries and banks.
Crypto will achieve its vision only when it is regulated, not having over 2000 shit coins to USD, over 200,000 shit ICO which 60% will end up scamming people
I think what matter is not just whales that could take so much coins in their possession.
But also small investors can also make the market to rise by increasing the demand of a coins, so if all of non whales doesn't take action and make a purchase, then to make the market increase so much will also get affected.