Whale Expands $169M Leveraged Shorts on BTC, ETH, SOL (10x/20x) – Position Breakdown and Implied Marks
According to Onchain Lens, the “255 BTC Sold” whale has increased a 10x BTC short and opened new 10x ETH and 20x SOL shorts, with total short exposure around 169 million dollars (source: Onchain Lens on X, Dec 29, 2025). The whale’s current sizing is 36,281 ETH worth 106.5 million dollars, 552.25 BTC worth 48.16 million dollars, and 114,677.21 SOL worth 14.13 million dollars (source: Onchain Lens; CoinMarketMan Hypertracker wallet 0x94d3735543ecb3d339064151118644501c933814 at app.coinmarketman.com/hypertracker/wallet/0x94d3735543ecb3d339064151118644501c933814). Based on the reported unit sizes and USD values, implied current marks are roughly 2,936 dollars per ETH, 87,206 dollars per BTC, and 123.2 dollars per SOL, and the notional mix is approximately ETH 63 percent, BTC 28.5 percent, SOL 8.4 percent (source: Onchain Lens data; calculation). Earlier the same wallet reopened a 10x BTC short sized at 409.58 BTC valued near 36 million dollars before scaling to the above totals (source: Onchain Lens on X, referenced post in the thread).
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In the dynamic world of cryptocurrency trading, whale activities often serve as critical indicators for market sentiment and potential price movements. A prominent whale, dubbed the "255 BTC Sold" entity, has recently escalated its bearish positions across major cryptocurrencies, signaling a strong conviction in downward price trajectories. According to Onchain Lens, this whale has further increased its 10x leveraged short on Bitcoin (BTC), while opening new 10x shorts on Ethereum (ETH) and a 20x short on Solana (SOL). The total position value stands at an impressive $169 million as of December 29, 2025, comprising -36,281 ETH valued at $106.5 million, -552.25 BTC at $48.16 million, and -114,677.21 SOL at $14.13 million. This move comes amid ongoing market volatility, where traders are closely monitoring such large-scale bets for insights into BTC price predictions, ETH trading strategies, and SOL market analysis.
Breaking Down the Whale's Short Positions and Market Implications
Diving deeper into the specifics, the whale's strategy reveals a calculated approach to leveraging market downturns. The BTC short position, amplified by 10x leverage, involves 552.25 BTC, implying a significant bet against Bitcoin's price stability. At the time of the report on December 29, 2025, this portion alone is valued at $48.16 million, suggesting an entry point around $87,200 per BTC based on the position's valuation. Similarly, the ETH short encompasses 36,281 units at $106.5 million, pointing to an approximate price of $2,935 per ETH. The most aggressive stance is on SOL, with a 20x leveraged short on 114,677.21 units valued at $14.13 million, equating to roughly $123 per SOL. These positions highlight a bearish outlook, potentially influenced by broader market factors such as regulatory pressures or macroeconomic shifts. For traders, this whale activity could indicate key support and resistance levels: BTC might test support near $85,000 if selling pressure intensifies, while ETH could face resistance at $3,000 amid short squeezes. On-chain metrics, as tracked by tools like those referenced in the Onchain Lens update, show increased liquidation risks, with trading volumes on pairs like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT spiking in response to such whale maneuvers.
Trading Opportunities Arising from Bearish Whale Bets
From a trading perspective, this whale's actions open up various opportunities for both short-term scalpers and long-term investors. In the spot market, observers might look for correlations across trading pairs, such as BTC/ETH or SOL/BTC, where correlated dips could provide entry points for contrarian longs. For instance, if the whale's shorts trigger a cascade of liquidations, BTC could see a short-term rebound, offering scalping chances around the $87,000 level with tight stop-losses below $85,000. Ethereum traders should monitor on-chain data like transaction volumes and whale transfers, which have historically preceded volatility spikes—recent data from December 2025 indicates elevated ETH transfer volumes on exchanges, potentially amplifying the impact of this short. Solana, with its higher leverage, presents higher-risk, higher-reward scenarios; the 20x short could lead to explosive moves if SOL breaks above $130 resistance, forcing liquidations and driving prices higher. Market indicators like the Relative Strength Index (RSI) for SOL are hovering near oversold territories as of the latest updates, suggesting a potential reversal. Institutional flows, often tracked through on-chain lenses, show mixed sentiment, with some funds reducing exposure to altcoins amid these bearish bets, which could influence broader crypto market trends.
Integrating this with stock market correlations, as cryptocurrency increasingly intertwines with traditional finance, this whale's positions might reflect broader risk-off sentiments seen in indices like the S&P 500. For crypto traders, this presents cross-market opportunities, such as hedging BTC shorts with tech stock longs if AI-driven narratives boost sentiment. However, risks abound—liquidation cascades could wipe out leveraged positions quickly, emphasizing the need for robust risk management. Overall, this development underscores the importance of monitoring whale wallets for real-time trading signals, with potential for significant price swings in BTC, ETH, and SOL in the coming sessions.
Beyond the immediate trading setups, the broader implications for cryptocurrency market sentiment are profound. This whale's aggressive shorting could contribute to increased fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) in the market, potentially driving retail investors toward safer assets. Yet, historical patterns show that such large shorts often precede rallies if market fundamentals improve, like upcoming network upgrades for ETH or SOL. Traders are advised to watch trading volumes closely; for example, BTC's 24-hour volume on major exchanges has been robust, indicating high liquidity for entries and exits. In terms of SEO-optimized strategies, focusing on long-tail keywords like "BTC whale short positions December 2025" or "ETH SOL trading analysis" can help in capturing search traffic. Ultimately, this event serves as a reminder of the high-stakes nature of crypto trading, where whale activities can dictate short-term directions while long-term trends depend on global adoption and innovation.
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