Ethereum News Today: Ethereum Whales Split on Strategy Amid Market Volatility

Ethereum whales have displayed a spectrum of strategies in the face of recent market turbulence, with some aggressively offloading large volumes of ETH while others made sizeable acquisitions. Whale address 0x3c9E sold 33,682 ETH—valued at approximately $119 million—during the weekend, a move interpreted as profit-taking amid uncertainty. Similarly, Arthur Hayes, CIO of Maelstrom Fund, liquidated 2,373 ETH and additional tokens like ENA and PEPE [1]. Meanwhile, other whales demonstrated confidence in Ethereum’s long-term value, with one acquiring $300 million worth of ETH, and SharpLink Gaming purchasing 30,755 ETH for $108.57 million, now holding a total of 480,031 ETH valued at $1.65 billion [2]. These contrasting behaviors underscore a divided sentiment within the whale community, balancing caution and optimism.

Bitcoin accumulation by institutional players continued to gain momentum despite the broader market’s volatility. Metaplanet added 463 BTC at an average price of $115,895 per coin, raising its total holdings to 17,595 BTC, valued at $1.78 billion [3]. El Salvador also reinforced its national Bitcoin reserves, increasing its holdings to 6,258.18 BTC, valued at around $718 million [4]. Additionally, a previously inactive BTC address that had held 306 coins for over 12.4 years was reactivated, signaling potential renewed activity among long-term holders [5].

Smart money flows also shifted toward emerging tokens. A HYPE whale significantly increased its position by depositing 4.07 million USDC to buy more HYPE tokens, holding 487,209.95 HYPE with an unrealized profit of $1.535 million [6]. Nansen analytics noted MAGICIAN (+$132K), AIPEPE (+$126K), and CHILLHOUSE (+$67K) as the top tokens by net smart money inflows in the past 24 hours [7]. These movements indicate a broader trend of capital allocation toward altcoins with high growth potential.

The market reaction to these whale activities was mixed but ultimately resilient. After a dip on Saturday, the total crypto market cap rebounded strongly by Sunday, supported by whale buying pressure. The divergence in whale strategies reflects a complex market environment where profit-taking coexists with strategic accumulation. While some whales are reducing exposure to mitigate risk, others are building positions, signaling anticipation of future gains [8].

This dynamic highlights the evolving nature of the crypto market, where institutional and large investor activity plays a pivotal role in shaping price trends and sentiment. As whales continue to pivot between Ethereum, Bitcoin, and emerging tokens, the balance of buying and selling pressures remains a key indicator for market direction.

[1] Lookonchain

[2] COINOTAG

[3] Metaplanet CEO, Simon Gerovich

[4] El Salvador Treasury Report

[5] OnChain Lens

[6] On-chain analyst, Hyperliquid (HYPE) wallet activity

[7] Nansen AI

[8] COINOTAG, analysis of whale activity and market cap trends