Bitcoin News Today: "Whale's $8.9M WBTC Dump Unveils Leverage Time Bomb in Crypto's Volatile New Era"

A major cryptocurrency whale executed a high-profile trade on November 5, 2025, selling 87.12 wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) worth approximately $8.9 million in a volatile market. The move coincided with broader market turbulence, including a leveraged WBTC long liquidation and a strategic deleveraging by a large holder to avoid forced liquidation. The activity underscored growing risks in leveraged positions and the influence of whale behavior on crypto liquidity.

The sale followed a 14-year-long Bitcoin (BTC) accumulation by a mysterious trader, who reportedly purchased 10,000 BTC at $1.54 each and sold it for $1 billion in October 2025, according to a Yahoo Finance report.

This transaction, detailed by crypto analyst Ted Pillows, highlighted the dramatic price appreciation of Bitcoin, which has surged from under $1,000 in 2011 to over $100,000 in 2025. However, the recent market slump, with BTC dropping to $104,026.85 at the time of reporting—a 3.5% decline in 24 hours—sparked concerns about further whale-driven sell-offs and their potential to exacerbate downward pressure, as noted in the Yahoo report.

The volatility also triggered a leveraged WBTC long liquidation. On-chain analytics firm PeckShield reported a trader who borrowed USDT via an Aave flash loan to fund a WBTC position. The position was liquidated for $31.47 million as BTC dipped below $101,000, reflecting the fragility of leveraged bets in a tightening liquidity environment, according to a Coinotag report. Meanwhile, another whale averted liquidation by selling 465.4 WBTC and 2,686 ETH, repaying $56.52 million in debts. The trade, executed at an average price of $102,722 per WBTC and $3,244 per ETH, demonstrated disciplined risk management amid sharp price swings, Coinotag reported.

Bitcoin's price decline, down 15% over 30 days, has raised questions about the sustainability of its 2025 rally. While Michael Saylor of MicroStrategy (MSTR) remains bullish, predicting a year-end price of $150,000, the market faces headwinds from macroeconomic uncertainty and regulatory developments. The recent whale activity, coupled with the liquidation of leveraged positions, has intensified scrutiny of on-chain risk metrics and the role of large players in shaping market sentiment.