Ethereum News Today: Crypto Whales Trigger BTC and ETH Price Declines With Massive Profit-Taking

Large-scale profit-taking by crypto whales has triggered a recent decline in Bitcoin and Ethereum prices as major holders moved significant portions of their holdings to exchanges. The activity, which has been most pronounced this week, saw over 12,000 BTC deposited, marking the highest weekly movement since November 2024. These transactions have created downward pressure on prices, with Bitcoin falling below $115,000 and Ethereum experiencing similar corrections [1].

The profit-taking has been concentrated among top institutional and large-cap investors, who have been offloading positions after a period of substantial gains. For instance, an Ethereum whale with the address 0x69b...0e378 built a 2,437 ETH position at an average price of $2,448 and has since taken profits with an estimated gain of $5.05 million. Such activity by whales is influencing market sentiment and contributing to broader volatility [1].

Retail participation has increased in response to the price dips, with traders stepping in to buy lower as institutional activity wanes. This shift in market dynamics is seen by some analysts as a potential stabilizing factor in the post-whale profit-taking phase. On-chain data from Glassnode also indicates a transition in Bitcoin’s distribution from whale and institutional dominance to a more retail-driven environment [1].

While Ethereum has experienced a pullback, it remains above key technical support levels, including the 50-period simple moving average at $4,407. Analysts suggest that a breakdown below $4,400 is unlikely in the short term, especially given Ethereum’s recent breakout from a multi-year downtrend against Bitcoin [5]. The asset appears to be consolidating before a potential resumption of its upward trend, with the $4,600–$4,800 range being the next key target if bulls regain control.

Bitcoin, too, is under observation as it faces pressure from whale-driven profit-taking. However, the continued inflow into Bitcoin ETFs and growing institutional adoption are seen as factors that may limit further short-term declines [8]. The broader crypto market has also felt the ripple effects, with altcoins like Solana’s SOL and XRP dropping by around 5% amid the profit-taking trend [2].

Notably, whale activity is not only reshaping Bitcoin and Ethereum but also influencing capital flows within the Ethereum ecosystem. Some large investors are shifting into smaller Ethereum-based tokens such as Pepe and Remittix (RTX), signaling a rotation of capital within the broader space [7]. These movements highlight the dynamic and often unpredictable nature of the crypto market, where large players play a critical role in shaping price action and investor sentiment.

Regulatory bodies and key industry figures, including Vitalik Buterin, have yet to issue formal comments on the current price movements. Traders are instead relying on on-chain analytics and market patterns to gauge the next potential direction. Historical data suggests that while whale-driven corrections can cause short-term volatility, they often lead to consolidation and eventual price recovery [1].

Source:

[1] Bitcoin Slides As Whales Take Profits; Ethereum, Dogecoin Also Slip

https://news.futunn.com/en/post/60727396/bitcoin-slides-as-whales-take-profits-ethereum-dogecoin-also-slip

[2] Solana's SOL, XRP Dive 5% Amid Profit-Taking; Bitcoin Traders Eye Gold Divergence

https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2025/08/18/solana-s-sol-xrp-dive-5-amid-profit-taking-bitcoin-traders-eye-gold-divergence

[5] Ethereum Breaks Multi-Year Downtrend Against Bitcoin

https://www.ainvest.com/news/ethereum-news-today-ethereum-breaks-multi-year-downtrend-bitcoin-2508/

[6] BitMine and Mystery Whale Buy $882M in Ethereum While Retail Panic Sell

https://www.tradingview.com/news/cryptonews:a9860d78b094b:0-bitmine-and-mystery-whale-buy-882m-in-ethereum-while-retail-panic-sell/

[7] Pepe Price Prediction: ETH Whales Are Accumulating Pepe Coin and This Other Viral ETH Token

https://coincentral.com/pepe-price-prediction-eth-whales-are-accumulating-pepe-coin-and-this-other-viral-eth-token/

[8] Bitcoin's Correction Amid Inflation Concerns: A Buying Opportunity? Warning Sign

https://www.ainvest.com/news/bitcoin-correction-inflation-concerns-buying-opportunity-warning-sign-2508/