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Whales buy btc while eth shorts skyrocket to 491 million

Whales Accumulate BTC | ETH Shorts Skyrocket to $491 Million

By

Isabella Moreno

Feb 25, 2026, 12:58 AM

Brief read

Large whale figures representing Bitcoin buyers against a backdrop of Ethereum charts showing high short positions

A notable shift in cryptocurrency positioning has emerged as whales ramp up Bitcoin (BTC) investments while flooding Ethereum (ETH) with short positions. Current data shows BTC trading at $66,000 with $758 million in long positions compared to $365 million in shorts. In contrast, ETH, priced at $1,914, faces a staggering $491 million in shorts, leading to a dramatic 7-to-1 ratio favoring bearish sentiment.

Whale Positioning Highlights

Tracking whale movements presents a mixed picture. The overall signal leans bearish with a 73% confidence level. Despite the doom and gloom around ETH, Bitcoin is attracting significant investment, as reported by on-chain tracking sources.

"The big money is actually adding there while liquidating everything else."

ETH Sentiment Shifts

"$491M in active shorts isnโ€™t a hedge, thatโ€™s a conviction position."

The heavy shorting of ETH raises eyebrows. Many in the crypto space underscore that the market is oversaturated with shorts, suggesting a potential setup for market volatility. Some voices on forums argue that this broad exposure might create a trap, as the market continually shifts.

Community Reactions

  • Doubt on ETH's Recovery: "Someone is very committed to this not recovering."

  • Speculation on Market Maker Behavior: "Doesnโ€™t 7-1 mean market makers should be looking to liquidate shorts?"

  • Cautious Optimism: "I see ETH near five-year lows, I buy."

Interestingly, while some believe the shorts represent a smart strategy to hedge, others see this influx of positions as dangerous. The potential for a squeeze looms large, especially with market volatility inherent in the crypto space.

Key Insights

  • โ–ณ BTC shows strong accumulation, with $758M in longs.

  • โ–ฝ ETH remains under pressure with $491M in shorts, indicating significant bearish sentiment.

  • โ€ป "The question is whether $491M in ETH shorts is the trap or the real position."

Final Thoughts

As this market landscape evolves, the looming question remains: Will these hefty short positions trigger a correction that destabilizes ETH further, or will Bitcoin's rally hold strong against the tide? The insights from whale movements will play a crucial role in the direction of both cryptocurrencies.