Whale Opens $1.1B Short in BTC & ETH Moments Before Trump Tariff Tweet — Insider Move or Unbelievable Timing?

A massive crypto whale allegedly placed over $1.1 billion in short positions on Bitcoin and Ethereum mere minutes before President Trump’s tariff tweet — a move that’s fueling claims of insider advantage.

In what many in the crypto world are calling one of the most audacious trades ever, on-chain data suggests that a so-called “Satoshi-era” whale opened short positions exceeding $1.1 billion in BTC and ETH just before President Trump’s announcement of sweeping 100% tariffs on Chinese tech imports. This strategic timing has triggered fierce speculation about insider insight, market manipulation, and the structural vulnerabilities of crypto markets.

The trade was first flagged by Lookonchain, which linked the address to historical holdings dating back to 2011. According to reports, the whale initiated a 10× leveraged short in 6,189 BTC (approx. $752.9 million) and a 12× leveraged short in 81,203 ETH (approx. $353.1 million). Their liquidation band hovered near $130,810.

As markets reacted to Trump’s 20:50 GMT tweet about the tariff escalation, Bitcoin and Ethereum sold off aggressively — BTC briefly dropped from over $122,000 to just above $102,000. The timing coincided so closely that some observers argue it’s more than coincidence. The whale reportedly exited most of the positions near the bottom, pocketing estimated gains between $190M and $200M.

Further fueling suspicion, crypto news sources indicate the same trader has since opened a new $163M short in Bitcoin, riding the momentum from their previous windfall.

Community and analyst reactions have been electric. On X, user Coffeezilla highlighted the suspicious precision of the timing:

“Whale’s last short placed at 20:49 GMT. Trump’s tweet at 20:50. Incredible ‘luck’.”

Meanwhile, rivals argue that identifying motive, coordination with inside sources, or regulatory leakage is nontrivial on pseudonymous blockchains — making hard proof elusive.

Still, this episode has reignited debates over market fairness, transparency, and the risk posed by high-leverage, well-capitalized actors. Some voices are calling for real-time exchange audits, on-chain signaling disclosure, and enhanced surveillance around macro events.

Whether this was orchestrated or just a spectacularly timed bet, the implications for retail traders, institutional trust, and regulatory posture are massive. The crypto world has a new benchmark trade to dissect — and the questions it raises may echo far beyond one whale’s profit.

Our creator. creates amazing NFT collections! 
Support the editors - Bitcoin_Man (ETH) / Bitcoin_Man (TON)

Pi Network (Guide)is a new digital currency developed by Stanford PhDs with over 55 million participants worldwide. To get your Pi, follow this link https://minepi.com/Tsybko and use my username (Tsybko) as the invite code.

Binance: Use this link to sign up and get $100 free and 10% off your first months Binance Futures fees (Terms and Conditions).

Bitget: Use this link Use the Rewards Center and win up to 5027 USDT!(Review)

Bybit: Use this link (all possible discounts on commissions and bonuses up to $30,030 included) If you register through the application, then at the time of registration simply enter in the reference: WB8XZ4 - (manual)