Ethereum News Today: Perfect Streak Broken: Whale's $64M BTC/ETH Bet Loses $19M

The "Cool-headed Whale," a high-profile crypto market participant known for its 100% win rate since October 11, has shifted its strategy after securing profits from short-term trades. According to Bitget's Hyperinsight monitoring, the whale recently reduced its long positions in Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL), liquidating 9,000 ETH and SOL contracts within a 10-minute window, with further incremental reductions ongoing. The move comes as the whale transitions from a short position to a long-term bet on Bitcoin (BTC) and ETH, with a combined position size of approximately $64 million, according to an Odaily News report.

Despite the strategic pivot, the whale's portfolio has faced headwinds. As of press time, its long positions are in a floating loss of $19.63 million, with total exposure across all positions valued at $116 million, according to the Bitget write-up. This marks a reversal from earlier gains: Lookonchain data indicates the whale had previously converted a $33 million profit into a $17.6 million loss following partial liquidations of ETH and SOL positions, per the Odaily News report. The losses coincide with broader market volatility, as Bitcoin and Ethereum have both seen sharp declines, with BTC briefly dipping below $99,000.

The whale's actions reflect a broader trend of institutional and retail players recalibrating positions amid tightening liquidity and shifting market sentiment. Analysts note that the whale's 100% win rate, which spanned months, has now ended, signaling potential instability in a market that had been experiencing consecutive net inflows into Solana spot ETFs, the Odaily News piece notes. Meanwhile, the whale's large-scale BTC and ETH long positions suggest confidence in a near-term rebound, though risks remain as the market grapples with a "broad sell-off" and growing fear indices.

Market observers are closely watching the whale's next moves, given its track record of influencing price action. The recent profit-taking and subsequent losses highlight the challenges of navigating a crypto landscape marked by rapid shifts in liquidity and investor sentiment. With Bitcoin's 24-hour decline narrowing to 4.63% as of 102,000 USDT, the whale's long-term strategy could provide further clarity on whether the bull market is in a retracement phase or has entered a more sustained downturn.