Bitcoin’s Rollercoaster: Arthur Hayes Exits as Bitfinex Whale Gobbles Up Discounted BTC

Bitcoin's price swings turn into a high-stakes poker game—while one crypto heavyweight folds, another doubles down.

Volatility is back on the menu. Just as Arthur Hayes liquidates his position, an anonymous Bitfinex whale treats the dip like a Black Friday sale. The market reacts like a caffeine-fueled auctioneer—frantic bids, panicked asks, and leveraged traders getting steamrolled.

Who’s playing 4D chess? Hayes’ exit sparks ‘institutional FUD’ chatter, but the whale’s nine-figure buy signals either supreme confidence or reckless hubris. Meanwhile, retail traders oscillate between ‘HODL’ memes and margin call screams.

The irony? This same script played out in 2021, 2023, and now 2025—proving crypto’s most reliable pattern is wealthy players profiting from everyone else’s Pavlovian reactions. Next stop: either a glorious rebound or a liquidator’s paradise. Place your bets.

Bitcoin’s Pain Deepens with Arthur Hayes Exit

While the Bitfinex whale is loading up, Arthur Hayes is heading for the exit. The former BitMEX CEO and now Maelstrom Fund’s CIO, recently dumped over $13 million worth of ETH, PEPE, and ENA. Hayes is bearish. He warned that Bitcoin could drop to $100,000 if macroeconomic pressures get worse. These include weak job numbers, credit tightening, and rising tariffs.

Hayes pointed out that only 73,000 new jobs were added in the U.S. in July—a disappointing figure. He sees this as a red flag. Fewer jobs mean less consumer confidence and spending. Add in sluggish credit growth and global economic uncertainty, and Hayes believes a deeper bitcoin correction is coming. His actions back up his words. According to blockchain data, his wallet now holds nearly $23 million in USDC, showing he’s preparing for a possible market slide.

Bitcoin Demand Diverges: Trump and Back Say Buy

Not everyone agrees with Hayes. Adam Back and even Eric Trump have a different take. Back flagged the whale’s aggressive buying as a strong bullish signal. Meanwhile, Eric Trump publicly encouraged investors to “buy the dip” after Bitcoin dropped below $113,000. This isn’t the first time Trump has promoted crypto during a downturn. Back in February, he said the same thing—and Bitcoin rallied 15% after that.

This contrast between sellers like Hayes and buyers like the Bitfinex whale reveals a deeper divide in sentiment. Some fear more downside, while others are seizing what they believe is a rare buying opportunity. Trump’s repeated calls to accumulate crypto during downturns have gained traction among retail traders. Combine that with Back’s whale spotting, and you’ve got a rising wave of buying pressure even in the face of falling prices.

the @bitfinex whale is back last 48hrs, TWAP buying bitcoin all-day looks like 300 btc/day for now.https://t.co/Jp1fiKesKv pic.twitter.com/7CP4RdOPoE

— Adam Back (@adam3us) August 2, 2025

Bitcoin Market Faces Growing Macro Pressure

Macroeconomic headwinds continue to shape the crypto landscape. Bitcoin has now dropped nearly 9% from its mid-July all-time high of $123,000. At the same time, Ethereum, XRP, and Solana have all fallen over 4%. Trading volume is also down sharply—more than 31% in just 24 hours. This isn’t just a Bitcoin problem. The entire crypto market is feeling the pressure.

One major factor? Trump’s tariffs are back. Combined with weak job data and the Federal Reserve’s refusal to cut interest rates, investors are getting nervous. The U.S. unemployment rate has crept up to 4.2%. Luke Tilley from Wilmington Trust says companies are hiring less because of rising costs. All this adds to the stress on risk-on assets like BTC.

Bitcoin’s Future: Correction or Comeback?

So where does Bitcoin go from here? Arthur Hayes says $100,000 is next. He sees rough waters ahead and is playing defense. On the other side, Adam Back and the Bitfinex whale are betting big on BTC’s rebound. Even Eric TRUMP is waving the crypto flag, urging followers to take advantage of the slump. With strong hands buying and weak hands selling, the market is split.

Some analysts argue that Bitcoin is stronger now than in past cycles. They believe the days of huge crashes are mostly over. But with credit tightening, shaky jobs data, and political uncertainty, no one can say for sure. What is clear: Bitcoin is at a crossroads. The next move—whether a plunge to $100K or a bounce back above $120K—may define the rest of the year. Investors WOULD do well to watch whales, watch the Fed, and stay alert.