In early May 2025, some of Ethereum’s biggest investors — often called whales — made some bold moves. But here’s the catch: they didn’t all do the same thing. Some are buying huge amounts of ETH, while others are selling it off or even betting the price will drop.
So, what does this mean for regular investors like you and me? Let’s break it down.
Some Whales Are Buying a Lot of ETH
One big investor recently bought over 3,000 ETH, which cost them around $5.7 million. Even though the price dropped a bit afterward — leaving them about $142,000 in the red — that kind of purchase shows serious long-term belief in Ethereum.
And they weren’t alone. On May 1, several large wallets picked up thousands of ETH within just two hours. That’s not something casual buyers do — it’s a clear sign they’re confident Ethereum will bounce back.
Others Are Selling — Or Betting ETH Will Drop
But not everyone is feeling so hopeful. On May 2, another whale sent nearly 2,700 ETH to the crypto exchange Kraken, probably to sell. That move came with a loss of more than $250,000.
Even more surprising, a longtime ETH holder — someone who got in during Ethereum’s 2015 launch — transferred 3,000 ETH to Kraken within 10 minutes. That ETH had been sitting untouched for three years, so it seems like they finally decided it was time to cash in.
Another whale went even further. They sold 6,000 ETH from the original 76,000 they got back in the early days. That sale earned them a sweet $10.9 million profit.
Meanwhile, someone else has taken out a big short position — basically betting ETH’s price will fall. They now have 10,000 ETH riding on Ethereum going down. That’s around $18 million on the line.
What’s Happening With ETH Prices?
Ethereum’s price went up 10% last week, but it slipped a little in the last day or so. Right now, ETH is hovering around $1,842 — a drop from its March high of $2,500.
Even with that dip, some signs point to strength. For example, Ethereum investment products saw $183 million in new money last week, ending a long streak of people pulling out. A new Ethereum ETF also brought in about $6.5 million in a single day.
Still, the market feels shaky. That giant short position and falling trading volume (down 10% in a day) show many investors aren’t sure which way the price will go.
Should You Be Worried or Excited?
This split between big buyers and big sellers puts regular investors in a tough spot. Here’s how to look at it:
Why you might worry:
- Big sales and short positions can bring prices down.
- Ethereum might be heading for a cooldown after recent gains.
Why you might feel hopeful:
- Some of the smartest investors are still buying in large amounts.
- Ethereum is still the top platform in the DeFi world, with $52 billion locked in projects.
One analyst even pointed out that ETH’s current chart looks a lot like Bitcoin’s in 2020, right before it exploded in value. If that pattern repeats, ETH might have a big run coming.
Looking Ahead: Is Ethereum Still Worth It?
Ethereum isn’t without competition. Rivals like Solana are growing fast, thanks to smoother apps and better tools for developers.
But Ethereum’s still improving, too. With upgrades like Ethereum 2.0 and faster Layer 2 solutions like Arbitrum and Optimism, it’s building a stronger future.
So if you believe in Ethereum long-term, this dip might be a chance to grab some ETH at a discount — just make sure to watch what the whales are doing and manage your risks.
