Key Takeaways
- A crypto whale executed a $521 million Bitcoin short** on Hyperliquid using **40x leverage**, narrowly avoiding liquidation by adding **$5 million USDC as margin.
- After 8 days, the whale closed the position, earning a $9.46 million profit—a move that sent shockwaves through the crypto market.
The Whale’s $9.46 Million Profit
On March 18, 2025, the whale exited all short positions on Hyperliquid, locking in a $9.46 million profit in just over a week. The trader used "Close Short" orders to settle Bitcoin and USDC positions, confirming the profit via blockchain transactions.
"This whale has closed all his positions and made a profit of $9.46M in just 8 days."
— Lookonchain (@lookonchain)
Despite facing liquidation threats during Bitcoin price surges, the whale stabilized the position by depositing an additional $5 million USDC. The trade—tracked via the public wallet address (0xf3F…057c)—became a focal point for the crypto community, triggering market volatility.
The Whale’s 8-Day Trading Journey
Initial Position
- Opened a $300 million BTC short on Hyperliquid.
- Gradually increased exposure to $521 million using 40x leverage.
Near-Liquidation Event
- Bitcoin’s price surge threatened the position.
- Whale injected $5M USDC to prevent margin calls.
- At one point, the trade showed a $630,000 unrealized loss.
Final Outcome
- Closed all positions on March 18, 2025.
- Netted $9.46 million profit despite earlier losses.
- Total 30-day profit: $4.9 million.
👉 Learn how Hyperliquid enables high-leverage trading
Hyperliquid: A Decentralized Perpetuals Exchange
Hyperliquid is a DeFi platform specializing in:
- Perpetual futures contracts with up to 40x leverage.
- Its proprietary blockchain for fast settlements.
- Fully decentralized and transparent trading.
The platform gained attention after this whale-driven event, showcasing its capacity to handle high-stakes trades while maintaining decentralization.
FAQs
1. How did the whale avoid liquidation?
By depositing $5 million USDC as additional margin when Bitcoin’s price surged.
2. What leverage was used in this trade?
40x leverage, as permitted by Hyperliquid’s protocol.
3. How long did the whale hold the position?
8 days, from opening to closing.
4. Did this trade impact the broader crypto market?
Yes, the $521 million short caused noticeable volatility.
5. Is Hyperliquid safe for retail traders?
While decentralized, high-leverage trading carries significant risk—especially during whale activity.
👉 Explore decentralized trading strategies
Source: Cryptopolitan