Whales Create Chaos Before FOMC

Welcome to the US Crypto News Morning Briefing—your essential rundown of the most important developments in crypto for the day ahead.

Grab a coffee because markets are anything but calm this week. Between shifting whale positions, record Bitcoin sell-offs, and a high-stakes Fed decision, traders are bracing for fireworks as bulls and bears fight for control of the next big crypto move.

Crypto News of the Day: Whales Reshuffle, Holders Dump, and Traders Brace for Powell’s Call

Crypto markets are bracing for turbulence as whales reshuffle positions and long-term holders cash out ahead of a pivotal Federal Reserve meeting. With traders split between risk and restraint, Bitcoin’s next big move may depend as much on Jerome Powell as on whale psychology.

Sponsored

Sponsored

According to Lookonchain, one whale wallet known for a 100%-win rate closed all 2,186 BTC ($256.56 million) in long positions with only a modest $1.4 million profit. This is a rare sign of caution from a trader typically known for precision timing.

Another whale, “0x4e8d,” exited $47.68 million worth of longs at a loss, while others like Machi Big Brother doubled down on ETH and HYPE longs. Meanwhile, a familiar short-seller who earned $8.3 million during October’s crash has reopened ETH shorts, suggesting expectations of renewed downside pressure.

At the same time, long-term Bitcoin holders are quietly unloading. According to CryptoQuant analyst JA Maartun, long-term investors have sold 325,600 BTC in the last 30 days, marking the sharpest drawdown since July 2025.

This wave of profit-taking contrasts sharply with accumulation trends seen among whales, who appear to be buying the dip.

It is a complex moment in which conviction and caution coexist, with some taking profits while others are positioning for a rebound.

Adding to the uncertainty, Sequan, a corporate entity holding Bitcoin as part of a treasury strategy, dumped 970 BTC ($112 million), its first sale since adopting a Bitcoin Treasury Strategy.

Sponsored

Sponsored

Meanwhile, a separate whale with a 100%-win rate reportedly closed an ETH 5x long for $1.63 million profit and increased exposure to SOL, betting on a short-term recovery.

Analyst Joao Wedson noted that aggregated liquidation levels show a clear split in sentiment. In the short term, many traders are positioned long between $109,000–$105,000, while medium-term shorts around $127,000 remain in profit.

With the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting just hours away, markets expect a 25-basis-point rate cut. Jerome Powell will speak at 2:30 PM ET.

Traders are on edge, torn between anticipating renewed liquidity and fearing hawkish signals that could extend volatility into November.

Sponsored

Sponsored

China Tensions Add to Market Anxiety

Beyond the Fed, geopolitics is also reshaping market sentiment. China purchased 180,000 tons of US soybeans in its first major order in months, a gesture seen as goodwill ahead of President Donald Trump’s highly anticipated meeting with Xi Jinping.

The summit comes as Trump signals a potential tariff rollback on Chinese chemical imports tied to fentanyl production. Analysts view the move as a possible breakthrough toward a broader US–China trade deal.

Even prediction markets are getting creative. One high-rolling trader on Polymarket, who previously made $13 million betting on Trump’s election win, reportedly placed a massive wager on the duration of the Trump–Xi handshake.

Sponsored

Crypto markets, meanwhile, are holding steady but cautious. Analysts say that confirmation of a trade deal could reignite bullish momentum across Bitcoin, Ethereum, and equities, potentially setting the stage for the next major rally once the dust from the FOMC settles.

Chart of the Day

Byte-Sized Alpha

Here’s a summary of more US crypto news to follow today:

Crypto Equities Pre-Market Overview