Bitcoin Whale Nets $9.4M Profit from $516M Short Before FOMC Decision

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A Bitcoin whale has closed a leveraged short position worth over $516 million, securing a profit of nearly $10 million.

The move comes just ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on March 19, which could influence market sentiment toward risk assets like Bitcoin.

Bitcoin Whale Profits from BTC Price Decline

Blockchain data from Hypurrscan shows that the Bitcoin whale had opened a 40x leverage short position for 6,210 BTC at an entry price of $84,043 per BTC. The trade, valued at approximately $368 million initially, would have faced liquidation if Bitcoin’s price exceeded $85,592.

Also read: ECB’s Francois Villeroy Warns: US Crypto Policy a ‘Time Bomb’?

Despite market pressure and an attempt by a group of traders to force liquidation, the whale managed to maintain the position by adding $5 million to the short. The investor ultimately closed all positions within hours, securing a $9.46 million profit as Bitcoin’s price declined.

This whale still managed to turn a profit despite being hunted by a team!

11 hours ago, @Cbb0fe publicly formed a team to hunt this whale who shorted $BTC with 40x leverage.

Just one hour later, the team was in action, driving $BTC above $84,690 in a short period.

The whale… pic.twitter.com/D6FBOFikZR
— Lookonchain (@lookonchain) March 17, 2025

Bitcoin Whale Reinvests in Ethereum

Following the profitable exit from the shorts, the Bitcoin whale quickly moved to accumulate Ethereum (ETH). On-chain data from Etherscan indicates that the investor purchased over 3,200 ETH for approximately $6.1 million at 7:31 am UTC on March 18.

The whale’s strategic moves align with the broader market’s anticipation of the upcoming FOMC meeting. With inflation concerns easing, as evidenced by February’s lower-than-expected US Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase of 2.8% year-over-year, analysts suggest this could influence the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy stance.

Also read: Lazarus Group Becomes a Bitcoin Giant, Overtaking Bhutan and El Salvador

Fumihiro Arasawa, co-founder and CEO of xWIN Research, noted that Bitcoin’s short-term price action would likely depend on whether it holds the $81,000 support level. A breakdown below this threshold could trigger further corrections, while stability might help sustain positive sentiment.

Fed Policy and Bitcoin Outlook

According to the CME Group’s FedWatch tool, markets currently estimate a 99% probability that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged. However, Ryan Lee, chief analyst at Bitget Research, cautioned that any unexpected hawkish stance from the Fed could negatively impact Bitcoin and other risk assets.

Also read: Glassnode Warning: Bitcoin Supply Gap Could Fuel a Price Plunge

As traders closely monitor the FOMC’s decision, Bitcoin’s price remains at a pivotal juncture, with potential volatility depending on macroeconomic developments.

Author

Steven Walgenbach

Steven's passion for cryptocurrency and blockchain technology began in 2014, inspiring him to immerse himself in the field. He notably secured a top 5 world ranking in robotics. While he initially pursued a computer science degree at the University of Texas at Arlington, he chose to pause his studies after two semesters to take a more hands-on approach in advancing cryptocurrency technology. During this period, he actively worked on multiple patents related to cryptocurrency and blockchain. Additionally, Steven has explored various areas of the financial sector, including banking and financial markets, developing prototypes such as fully autonomous trading bots and intuitive interfaces that streamline blockchain integration, among other innovations.

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