Whale's Late Exit Turns Profit into Loss

On January 21, on-chain analytics uncovered a striking Ethereum trading pattern. A well-known swing trader steadily accumulated 9,043 WETH over several months during a bullish ETH phase, averaging $3,085 per unit.

The position once surged with an unrealized gain of $2.87 million, highlighting exceptional market timing. However, the trader failed to secure profits at peak valuation, missing a prime window to exit.

Panic Selling Amid Downturn

Twelve hours ago, the wallet offloaded 3,000 WETH during a price dip, realizing just $30,000 in profit—only a fraction of earlier gains. This move signals a breakdown in risk management.

  • Total acquired: 9,043 WETH
  • Average cost: $3,085
  • Peak unrealized P&L: $2.87M
  • Sold: 3,000 units
  • Remaining balance: 4,089.83 WETH
  • Current unrealized loss: $472K

The position has now flipped from deep profit to significant loss, underscoring a critical lesson: even flawless entry strategies can fail without disciplined exit planning. This episode serves as a cautionary tale for large holders navigating volatile markets.