A comprehensive analysis of the role of whales in the crypto market and their impact on dominant currencies
Introduction: What are crypto whales and why are they considered a market indicator?
In the world of digital currencies, the term "whales" refers to investors or entities that own massive amounts of currencies like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH). Thanks to the immense liquidity they control, these whales can directly influence market movements. By 2025, with the crypto market value reaching $2.8 Trillion, whale movements have become a critical indicator monitored by investors to understand market trends, using tools like Lookonchain and CoinGlass to track large transfers that change price momentum.
1. Who are the crypto whales?
Definition of digital whales
Whales are individuals or entities that hold large amounts of digital currencies, including:
Massive wallets: Like MetaMask Institutional and Trust Wallet institutional.
Regulatory entities: Like BitGo Trust Company and Taurus that manage institutional assets.
Individual investors: People or developers holding millions of dollars in coins.
Features of crypto whales
Liquidity control: They can withdraw or add large amounts of coins, affecting liquidity distribution.
Price impact: For example, when Boyco Vaults released liquidity worth $2.3 billion on Berachain (BERA) on May 6, 2025, it caused sharp price volatility.
Market manipulation: Through transfers across digital bridges like Wormhole or deBridge, altering the distribution of coins between blockchain networks.
2. How do crypto whales operate?
A. Liquidity withdrawal strategies
Practical example: Metaplanet bought 1,004 Bitcoins worth $104.3 Million, raising the BTC price to $109,579 due to increased demand.
Impact: Withdrawing large liquidity, as happened with BERA, could lead to price collapse.
B. Manipulation via futures
Whales use leverage on platforms like Binance Futures and Hyperliquid to achieve quick profits, but this increases the risk of sharp volatility.
C. Institutional hedging
Entities like Visa and PayPal rely on stablecoins like USD1 (backed by BitGo) to secure profits at market support levels.
3. The top 5 cryptocurrencies targeted by whales in 2025
1. Bitcoin (BTC) – the digital gold
Market Cap: $2.03 Trillion
Attractiveness: Limited supply (21 million coins) and strong institutional support, such as Metaplanet's investment of $104.3 million.
2. Ethereum (ETH) – leader in smart contracts
Market Cap: $289 Billion
Attractiveness: Dominates decentralized finance (DeFi) with $900 Billion in liquidity, with Pectra updates enhancing its efficiency.
3. Solana (SOL) – speed and efficiency
Market Cap: $83.4 Billion
Attractiveness: Attracted $165 Million in Ethereum liquidity, with a trading volume exceeding $3.32 Billion daily on DEX platforms.
4. Berachain (BERA) – the Proof-of-Liquidity revolution
Market Cap: $354 Million
Attractiveness: Attracted $2.3 Billion from Boyco Vaults, but is subject to significant volatility.
5. Hyperliquid (HYPE) – futures platform
Market Cap: $8.41 Billion
Attractiveness: HyperEVM updates and its integration with artificial intelligence make it a target for institutions.
4. The role of stablecoins in whale strategies
USD1 – the safe haven
Current price: $0.9999
Market Cap: $1.1 Trillion
Usage: Backed by cash reserves, used for hedging against volatility and transfers across bridges like deBridge.
5. Whale strategies
Monitoring transfers: Using Lookonchain and CoinGlass to track liquidity.
Contract manipulation: Opening large positions in futures to benefit from the funding rate.
Hedging: Converting assets to stablecoins at support levels.
6. Risks associated with whale activity
Market manipulation: Can cause significant losses for individual investors.
Sharp volatility: As seen with BERA's 48% drop in May 2025.
Regulatory risks: Laws like GDPR may affect transfers across bridges.
7. How to protect yourself from whale losses?
Set your budget: Do not invest more than you can afford.
Monitor the market: Use Binance Analytics and DeFiLlama to track liquidity.
Avoid suspicious projects.
8. Conclusion: How to benefit from whale movements?
Whales are key players shaping the dynamics of the crypto market. By targeting currencies like BTC and ETH as core assets, and SOL, BERA, and HYPE as advanced investment opportunities, investors can monitor their movements to improve their decisions. However, success requires careful analysis and risk awareness.