The crypto community held its breath today as a dormant wallet of 11,004.9 ETH, which had not been active for over eight years, suddenly started selling off its savings. While this address had previously been buying up Ether at $3.45 per coin, its owner has now chosen to part with almost half of its assets, earning about $15 million in USDC at a rate of $2,736 for 5,485 ETH. And all this happened in just an hour and a half! Isn't that a plot for a crypto thriller?
Many in the crypto community see this as an ominous sign. Some may see it as a simple “profit taking” after a long wait. But more experienced crypto analysts and observers may see a hint of a much deeper strategy – a massive sell-off of altcoins ahead of a possible Bitcoin crash. After all, whales are not known to act spontaneously: they don’t just “sell” – they exit the game precisely when they sense big changes.
What could this mean for the market?
In the crypto world, any sudden sale of such a volume is far from accidental. If a major player decides to "unload" from Ethereum, this can be considered an alarm bell for the altcoin season, which has not yet really begun. As the saying goes, "If Bitcoin catches a cold, the alts will go to intensive care." And if the market really turns around, altcoins will be dumped not only by "awakening whales", but also by all those who tried to catch the trend. However, as history shows, trends in crypto disappear as quickly as they appear.
Why is Bitcoin staying afloat?
Bitcoin is still the main asset, while alts depend on its movements. Amid turbulence in the global economy and possible regulatory blows to the crypto industry, Bitcoin is still perceived by many as a "safe" asset in this volatile environment. However, alts do not have such a reputation. And if Bitcoin falters, they will fly down at double speed.
Why could this be the beginning of the end?
If the sleeping whales who own Ethereum and other altcoins start to “wake up” en masse and dump their assets, the market could respond with a cascade of falls. The scenario looks quite alarming for those who still hope for an alt-season, because all signs point to the fact that this time a big collapse may be just around the corner. And such sales are just the first bell.
If other "sleeping addresses" start withdrawing their funds, it will become a race for survival, with weak altcoins being left on the sidelines. Those who have been hoping for a "late alt season" should consider whether their belief in the growth of altcoins will be an empty illusion.
So this sell-off isn’t just news. It’s a potential call to action. Will the market heed the whale’s signals, or will it repeat the mistakes of the past, showing that hopes for an alt-season were perhaps premature? The answer is coming soon, and the outcome will be clear to all – as soon as the sell-off hits the market again.
