Ethereum Whale Cashes Out $33M Profit, Pivots to Aggressive Spot Buying Strategy

Massive Ethereum move signals strategic shift as major player locks in gains and doubles down on spot positions.

The $33 Million Exit

One trader just banked eight figures in pure profit—triggering market whispers about whether this marks a local top or just smart portfolio rebalancing. The move comes as Ethereum tests key resistance levels, with some analysts calling for explosive upside while others warn of overheated conditions.

Spot Market Gambit

Instead of fleeing to stablecoins, the whale immediately recycled capital into spot purchases—a bullish signal that suggests confidence in further appreciation. This isn't profit-taking from weak hands; it's sophisticated repositioning from a player with proven timing.

Market Implications

Watch for copycat behavior among larger holders. When whales make moves this size, retail often follows—sometimes right off a cliff. The real question: does this trader know something the rest of the market doesn't, or are they just better at playing the volatility game than your average fund manager?

Remember: in crypto, yesterday's genius is tomorrow's liquidation story. But for now, someone's sitting on a mountain of cash—and buying more.

TLDR

• Ethereum trader closes $450M in long positions, locking in $33M profit, shifts to spot buys.
• Ethereum derivatives market sees 145% volume surge, with ETH options driving significant activity.
• ETH liquidations hit $295M, with long positions experiencing greater losses than shorts.
• Despite market volatility, traders maintain bullish sentiment, reflected in positive funding rates.

Ethereum (ETH) has seen notable price movements recently, with the token currently priced at $4,569.22. This marks a 3.45% drop in the past 24 hours, yet it has gained 7.10% over the last seven days. Amidst these fluctuations, a well-known Bitcoin trader has made significant adjustments to his ethereum positions.

He closed a substantial portion of his long positions, generating profits, and shifted to spot purchases. Meanwhile, Ethereum derivatives markets are experiencing increased activity, signaling both heightened interest and volatility.

Ethereum Trader Adjusts Long Positions and Moves to Spot

A prominent trader, who previously held long positions in Ethereum, has closed 95,053 ETH, worth approximately $450 million. The average price at which these positions were closed stands at $4,735, resulting in a profit of over $33 million. Subsequently, the trader has transitioned to spot purchases, acquiring 23,575 ETH for around $108 million. Despite the shift in strategy, the trader still holds 40,212 ETH in long positions, which are currently showing an unrealized profit of over $11 million.

This Bitcoin OG is closing his $ETH longs and buying $ETH spot.

He has closed 95,053 $ETH($450M) longs at $4,735 avg for a profit of $33M+, then bought 23,575 $ETH($108M) spot.

He still holds 40,212 $ETH($184M) longs, with an unrealized profit of $11M+.https://t.co/F2EVWqSvMV pic.twitter.com/jAO4hPc1MY

— Lookonchain (@lookonchain) August 25, 2025

These decisions indicate a change in trading tactics, with the trader locking in profits from long positions while continuing to maintain a bullish stance on Ethereum. This MOVE has garnered attention as it aligns with broader trends in Ethereum’s market activity, where both speculative interest and price volatility are on the rise.

Surge in Ethereum Derivatives Trading Volume

The derivatives market for Ethereum has seen a dramatic increase in volume. Over the last 24 hours, ETH derivative volume surged by 145.46%, reaching a total of $199.89 billion. This spike signals a higher level of trading activity, possibly fueled by market speculation or anticipation of upcoming price movements.

Notably, options trading has been a significant driver of this volume increase. In particular, ETH options volume jumped by 180.59%, reaching $2.75 billion. The options open interest also grew by 2.36%, bringing it to $19.63 billion, reflecting sustained interest in Ethereum’s options market.

However, while trading volume is up, open interest has dropped by 3.31%, standing at $66.77 billion. This suggests that traders are closing positions rather than opening new ones, possibly due to market uncertainty or profit-taking behavior. The reduced open interest points to a more cautious approach from traders in the current market environment.

Liquidations and Long/Short Ratios

The liquidation data for Ethereum over the past 24 hours reveals a sharp contrast in the liquidation of long and short positions. Total liquidations amounted to $295.05 million, with $205.05 million from long positions and $90 million from short positions. This suggests that many traders who were holding long positions may have been caught off guard by recent price declines, leading to higher liquidation volumes.

Despite this, the Long/Short ratios indicate a continued preference for long positions in certain exchanges. The overall ratio for the past 24 hours stands at 0.9417, showing a slight short bias. However, exchanges like Binance and OKX reveal a more pronounced long bias, with ratios of 1.4944 and 1.35, respectively. This underscores that, despite some short-term volatility, many traders still prefer holding long positions on Ethereum.

Additionally, the ETH OI-Weighted Funding Rate remains positive, fluctuating between 0.005% and 0.015%. This indicates that traders are willing to pay to maintain long positions, suggesting continued Optimism for Ethereum’s price movement. Although the funding rate has not reached extreme levels, it reinforces the notion that the broader market sentiment remains cautiously optimistic.