A high-stakes Bitcoin (BTC) trader has successfully closed a massive $500 million short position, securing an impressive $9.36 million profit in just five minutes.
The trade, which was reported by NMTD.HL/BTC on the X platform, highlights yet another bold move by the notorious “HL degen” trader.
Utilizing an extremely aggressive 40x leverage strategy, the trader initially placed a high-risk bet against Bitcoin’s price, with additional capital injections pushing the total position to half a billion dollars.
Many in the crypto community were closely monitoring the trade, debating whether it was backed by insider knowledge or simply an exceptionally well-timed market prediction.
The sheer scale of the position had market watchers on edge, as it could have resulted in either a significant gain or a catastrophic loss.
High Leverage and Near Liquidation Before a Dramatic Turnaround
The trader’s strategy was fraught with extreme risk, nearly resulting in a complete liquidation.
At one point, Bitcoin’s price surged to $85,565, coming within just 1% of wiping out the entire short position, which would have amounted to a staggering $13 million loss.
As unrealized losses ballooned to $3.8 million, the situation seemed dire. However, instead of cutting losses, the trader took an even riskier step, doubling down by adding another $150 million to the short position.
The move ultimately proved to be the turning point, as Bitcoin’s price reversed, allowing the trader to close the position at a profit.
The decision to increase the stake at such a critical moment has drawn both admiration and skepticism from the crypto community, with many questioning whether this was a well-calculated risk or sheer luck.
Speculation Over Insider Knowledge and Market Influence
Given the precision and scale of this trade, speculation has mounted over whether the trader had access to insider information or possessed an advanced understanding of market behavior.
With such a high level of leverage, even the slightest price movement in the wrong direction could have resulted in a complete wipeout.
However, the timing of the trade’s closure and the fact that it turned from near disaster into a profitable exit suggest a level of market insight that few traders possess.
Additionally, this case has reignited concerns about the influence of “whale” traders on market volatility.
Large-scale positions like this can sometimes trigger cascading liquidations, force price movements, and impact the broader trading environment, leading to increased market manipulation concerns.
Also Read: Bitcoin Trader Profits $11.28 Million By Just Holding For 2 Years
Bitcoin Price Declines Amid Market Volatility
Following the dramatic trade, Bitcoin’s price has experienced a decline, trading at BTC 1.0000 today with a 24-hour volume exceeding $20.1 billion.
Over the last 24 hours, Bitcoin has dropped by 2.20%, though it has still posted a 0.60% increase over the past week.
The cryptocurrency’s market capitalization stands at BTC 19.83 million, reflecting ongoing market fluctuations driven by high-volume trading activity.
The volatility surrounding Bitcoin’s recent price action has sparked further discussions on the impact of leveraged trades, as large positions like the one closed by the HL degen trader contribute to abrupt price movements that affect the entire market.
Other Major Bitcoin Trades Yield Mixed Outcomes
The crypto market continues to witness high-risk, high-reward trades, with several other traders executing major Bitcoin positions in recent days.
One investor has secured over $7.5 million in unrealized profits after shorting Bitcoin at $96,500, as BTC’s price fell below $80,000. This has led to increased market volatility and widespread liquidations.
Meanwhile, another long-term investor turned an $8.25 million Bitcoin investment into $60 million over a six-year period by selling at peak valuations.
As Bitcoin continues to hover near $90,000 with strong market demand, traders are weighing the risks and rewards of high-leverage strategies, attempting to capitalize on the crypto market’s ever-shifting landscape.
Also Read: Bitcoin Trader Turned $27.5 Million $WBTC Trade Into $36.4 Million, Nets $8.93M Profit