Bitcoin News Today: Unbeaten Crypto Whale's First Loss Exposes Leverage Risks in Volatile Markets

A prominent crypto whale known for a "100% win rate" has suffered its first major defeat, liquidating a $2.507 billion long Bitcoin (BTC) position at a loss after a brief market downturn. The move, tracked by Lookonchain, resulted in a $12.68 million loss over 24 hours. The whale now holds a $190 million 10x leveraged Ethereum (ETH) position and a $74 million 10x leveraged Solana (SOL) position, with unrealized gains and losses narrowing significantly, according to Lookonchain.

The liquidation underscores the fragility of leveraged positions in a volatile market. While the BTC whale's loss is notable, broader crypto activity reveals a mixed picture. On-chain analytics show that other whales are aggressively scaling positions, betting on a continued recovery. Wallet 0xc2a3, the same "100% win rate" trader, has added to its ETH and BTC holdings, now controlling $170.46 million in BTC and $167.35 million in ETH, according to a Yahoo Finance report. Meanwhile, another whale, wallet 0xb9fe, has initiated take-profit orders on a 25x leveraged ETH position but continues to hold $15.689 million in ETH longs, the report notes.

Bearish sentiment also emerged, with a whale depositing $5.058 million in USDC on Hyperliquid to open a 10x leveraged short on ETH, according to a Bitget report. This move, one of the largest shorts in recent months, reflects growing uncertainty amid regulatory ambiguity and economic headwinds. Analysts remain divided on whether such bets signal conviction in a bearish trend or amplify risks of leverage-driven volatility, the Bitget update adds.

The market's turbulence has triggered widespread liquidations. Over the past 24 hours, Bitcoin's price swing between $107,000 and $113,000 wiped out $600 million in leveraged positions, with $355 million in longs and $301 million in shorts closed, according to a Yahoo Finance piece. Solana, XRP, and Dogecoin also faced significant losses. Kraken's derivatives head, Alexia Theodorou, noted that while Bitcoin's long/short ratio has stabilized, "fragile sentiment remains" as traders navigate a delicate balance between capitulation and cautious optimism, the Yahoo piece added.

Amid the chaos, altcoin activity highlights divergent strategies. A whale linked to a suspected HYPE listing insider increased its $50 million HYPE long position (5x leverage) and added exposure to XPL, 0G, and PURR, despite mixed unrealized gains and losses, according to a CoinEx feed. Such moves underscore the speculative nature of altcoin trading, where timing and information asymmetry often dictate outcomes.

The crypto landscape remains a high-stakes arena for whales, with leveraged bets amplifying both potential rewards and risks. While some traders double down on bullish positions, others hedge against downturns, reflecting a market still grappling with macroeconomic pressures and regulatory uncertainty. As volatility persists, the actions of these large players will likely continue to shape short-term price dynamics.