Unusual Activity by Ethereum Whale Sparks Market Speculation
An Ethereum whale, a term used to describe investors who hold more than 1,000 units of ether (ETH), recently made an unusual move. After nine years of inactivity, the investor transferred 50,000 ETH, valued at approximately $145 million, to the Gemini exchange. This information was revealed through on-chain data from the Ethereum network.
Details of the Transaction
The wallet, identified by the address “0xb5… Fb168D6”, first sent 25,000 ETH and then another 25,000 ETH hours later. This was after transferring 1 ETH, likely as a test. This particular address had been inactive since 2017, when it withdrew approximately 135,000 ETH from the Bitfinex exchange. At that time, the value of the holdings was around $12.17 million, as ether was trading near $90. The current price, hovering around $2,900, is 32 times higher than it was then.
This suggests that the Ethereum whale made a profit of over $120 million, assuming the coins were sold as expected. Cryptocurrency transfers to exchanges are typically made for selling purposes.
Impact on Ethereum Market
The activity of this Ethereum whale could be one of the downward pressures currently affecting ETH. This is not only due to the large volume of sales from this investor alone, but also the fear it generates. Other investors may be prompted to offload their holdings in this climate.
Whales, who move large amounts of money, have a greater influence on the price than retail investors. Their actions also affect market sentiment, as they typically do not act impulsively. These large investors usually buy when they perceive the market to be undervalued and sell at temporary highs.
ETH’s price experienced a significant rise in the previous bullish cycle that ended in 2021, while the most recent cycle did not have a notable performance. It barely surpassed its record of $4,900 in October before entering a corrective period.
Concerns for Ethereum Investors
The current state of the Ethereum market is causing concern among investors, especially considering the performance of bitcoin (BTC). Bitcoin’s price nearly doubled its previous cycle high ($69,000 in 2021 vs. $126,000 in 2025). As reported by CriptoNoticias, there are fears that it may enter a bearish phase, like other cryptocurrencies and stocks, if the appetite for risk in global markets does not revive.
However, the Ethereum whale in question did not transfer all of its holdings. In fact, it still holds more than it moved: 85,283 ETH. This suggests bullish expectations for ether in the long term, despite the possibility of having taken substantial profits from a portion of its investment.
Conclusion
The recent activity of an Ethereum whale has sparked speculation and concern among investors. The large transfer of ETH to an exchange, coupled with the current market conditions, has led to fears of a potential downturn. However, the fact that the whale still holds a significant amount of ETH suggests a long-term bullish outlook. As always, investors are advised to stay informed and make decisions based on careful analysis of market trends.
