Top Trader Defies Downtrend with ETH Long Amid Market Turmoil

A prominent South Korean trader known as Ohtanishohei, who previously topped Binance's futures profit leaderboard, has initiated a long position on Ethereum (ETH) with 5x leverage at an entry price of $3,950.67. This marks the trader's first ETH long trade in a month and follows a year of generating $10 million in unrealized gains through leveraged trading strategies starting from an initial capital of $100,000. The position involves 750 ETH, reflecting renewed confidence in Ethereum's price trajectory amid broader market volatility.

Ohtanishohei's strategic reentry into ETH long positions aligns with Ethereum's recent price action, which dipped below the $4,000 psychological level. According to market data, Ethereum closed at $4,006.79 on September 25, 2025, representing a 4.2% decline in 24 hours. This follows a significant liquidation event where a large ETH position was wiped out after the asset fell below $4,000. The trader's decision to enter at $3,950 suggests a belief in Ethereum's potential to stabilize and rebound from current levels.

The trader's approach highlights the role of institutional and high-net-worth participants in shaping cryptocurrency market dynamics. By leveraging 5x leverage—a moderate risk profile compared to the 10x or higher levels seen in some crypto derivatives markets—the trader balances exposure with risk management. This contrasts with recent trends of extreme leverage use, which contributed to over $290 million in market-wide liquidations across major assets in the past 24 hours, according to CoinGlass data. Ohtanishohei's track record of compounding gains through disciplined rollover strategies underscores the importance of strategic leverage application in volatile markets.

Broader market context reveals mixed sentiment, with Ethereum derivatives markets showing heightened activity. Centralized exchange holdings of ETH have reached their lowest level since 2016, indicating strong institutional accumulation. Meanwhile, Ethereum spot ETFs recorded $79.36 million in outflows on September 24, reflecting cautious positioning among investors. Despite these pressures, the trader's move signals a bullish outlook, supported by historical patterns where Ethereum has shown resilience after key support levels. Analysts note that a sustained close above $4,400 would be critical for regaining upward momentum, a threshold Ohtanishohei's position implicitly targets.

The trader's actions come amid evolving regulatory and macroeconomic factors. Nine European banks are preparing a MiCA-compliant euro-backed stablecoin by 2026, while U.S. Bitcoin spot ETFs continued to attract inflows, adding $241 million on September 24. These developments highlight growing institutional integration of crypto assets, potentially stabilizing market structures. Ohtanishohei's strategy reflects a tactical response to these shifts, leveraging Ethereum's role as a foundational asset in decentralized finance (DeFi) and its technical indicators, such as the CMC Fear and Greed Index hovering near "fear" levels at 41. The trader's decision to reenter ETH long positions underscores confidence in Ethereum's long-term value proposition despite short-term volatility.

Source: [1] The top trader on Binance contracts has gone long on ETH again … (https://www.gate.com/news/detail/14035460)

[2] Why Is Crypto Down Today? – September 25, 2025 (https://cryptonews.com/news/why-is-crypto-down-today-september-25-2025/)