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Crypto Whale Loses $35 Million on Ethereum Long, Pivots to Massive BTC and ETH Shorts

Crypto Whale Loses $35 Million on Ethereum Long, Pivots to Massive BTC and ETH Shorts

In the fast-paced world of crypto trading, big players—often called whales because of their massive holdings—can make or break markets with their moves. Recently, a whale tracked by the handle "0xa52" made headlines for a bold pivot after a hefty loss. According to onchain data shared by Onchain Lens on X, this trader closed a 15x leveraged long position on Ethereum (ETH), booking a staggering $35.39 million loss, before diving into short positions on both Bitcoin (BTC) and ETH.

Let's break it down step by step. A long position means betting that the price will go up, and leverage—like the 15x used here—amplifies gains or losses by borrowing funds. In this case, the whale's ETH long didn't pan out, likely due to recent market dips. After closing that trade, they didn't sit on the sidelines. Instead, they opened a 25x leveraged short on BTC for 1,106.93 BTC, valued at about $122.6 million. Shorting is the opposite of longing: it's a bet that the price will drop.

Screenshot of whale's BTC short position on Hyperliquid dashboard

But the story doesn't end there. Just a day later, the same whale was back at it, opening another short—this time on ETH with 15x leverage. The stats are eye-opening: a position size of 11,802 ETH, valued at $50.4 million, with an entry price of $4,278.63 and a liquidation price of $4,801.88. Liquidation, for those new to trading, happens when the market moves against you enough to wipe out your margin, forcing the position to close automatically.

Screenshot showing whale's ETH short position details on Hyperliquid

This whale's activity was spotted on Hyperliquid, a platform popular for perpetual futures trading in crypto. Onchain analysis tools like this help demystify whale movements, giving retail traders a peek into strategies that could signal broader market sentiment. With ETH and BTC prices fluctuating amid global economic pressures, this shift to shorts might hint at bearish expectations from big money.

For meme token enthusiasts and blockchain practitioners, whale behaviors like this can ripple into smaller assets. Meme coins often follow the trends of majors like ETH and BTC, so a big short on these could mean increased volatility or even opportunities for contrarian plays. Keep an eye on onchain data—it's like having a crystal ball for crypto trends.

If you're diving into leveraged trading, remember the risks: high leverage can lead to quick liquidations, as seen here. Always do your own research and consider starting small. For more insights on crypto whales and market moves, check out our knowledge base at Meme Insider.

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