A well-known crypto whale, previously recognized for an unbroken streak of successful trades, has experienced its first significant setback by closing a $2.507 billion long
Bitcoin
(BTC) position at a loss following a swift dip in the market. According to data from
Lookonchain
, this resulted in a $12.68 million loss within a single day. The whale currently maintains a $190 million 10x leveraged
Ethereum
(ETH) position and a $74 million 10x leveraged
Solana
(SOL) position, with unrealized profits and losses now much closer together, as reported by Lookonchain.
This liquidation highlights the vulnerability of leveraged trades in unpredictable markets. Although the
BTC
whale’s loss is significant, overall crypto market activity remains mixed. Blockchain data indicates that other large investors are increasing their positions, anticipating a market rebound. Wallet 0xc2a3, the same trader with the prior perfect record, has expanded its
ETH
and BTC assets, now holding $170.46 million in BTC and $167.35 million in ETH, according to a Yahoo Finance report . In contrast, another whale, wallet 0xb9fe, has started to take profits on a 25x leveraged ETH trade but still retains $15.689 million in ETH longs, the report states.
Bearish sentiment has also surfaced, with one whale depositing $5.058 million in
USDC
on Hyperliquid to initiate a 10x leveraged short position on ETH, as detailed in a Bitget report . This is among the largest short trades seen in recent months, reflecting heightened uncertainty due to unclear regulations and economic challenges. Experts remain split on whether such positions show confidence in a downward trend or simply increase the risk of volatility driven by leverage, the Bitget update notes.
Market instability has led to widespread liquidations. In the last 24 hours, Bitcoin’s price fluctuated between $107,000 and $113,000, resulting in $600 million in leveraged positions being wiped out, with $355 million in longs and $301 million in shorts closed, according to a
Yahoo Finance piece . Solana,
XRP
, and
Dogecoin
also experienced notable losses. Alexia Theodorou, head of derivatives at Kraken, observed that while the long/short ratio for Bitcoin has evened out, “market sentiment remains fragile” as traders try to balance between giving up and cautious optimism, according to Yahoo.
Amidst the volatility, altcoin trading reveals a variety of strategies. A whale suspected of having insider knowledge about a HYPE listing increased its $50 million HYPE long position (with 5x leverage) and added more exposure to
XPL
,
0G
, and PURR, despite a mix of unrealized profits and losses, as reported by a CoinEx feed . These actions highlight the speculative nature of altcoin markets, where timing and access to information can be decisive.
The crypto market continues to be a high-risk environment for large investors, with leverage intensifying both gains and losses. Some traders are increasing their bullish bets, while others are hedging against declines, illustrating a market still dealing with economic pressures and regulatory ambiguity. As volatility endures, the decisions of these major players are likely to keep influencing short-term price movements.
