Solana News Update: Major Solana Investor Exits Large SOL Position While Top ETH Players Double Down

A significant

(SOL) investor recently sold 30,678.76 in a series of trades, incurring a $1.265 million loss and now facing an unrealized portfolio shortfall of $22.74 million. As detailed in a , this move signals increasing caution as total crypto market value has fallen to $3.59 trillion, reflecting changing strategies among major holders. The whale's remaining 358,602.47 SOL is now showing an unrealized loss of $14.58 million, while their and HYPE assets—21,500 ETH and 161,961.04 HYPE—further contribute to the negative balance.

This stands in contrast to other whales who have increased their positions in

(ETH). A "Smart Money" whale took on a $9.96 million ETH long (2,621.95 ETH) with 25x leverage, raising total exposure to $62.35 million, according to . This follows a broader trend of whales rebalancing portfolios, reducing high-leverage HYPE exposure, and boosting ETH longs. Meanwhile, a trader known as "Buddy" shifted their portfolio, cutting HYPE holdings but still holding an unrealized ETH gain of $890,000.

The Solana whale's decision mirrors a wider trend of investors seeking safety amid market swings. Recently, a veteran

whale transferred 7,000 BTC to exchanges, hinting at profit-taking. Large trades in tokens such as , GHOST, and SOL also reveal a blend of accumulation and defensive tactics among big players. For example, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao bought $2 million worth of ASTER, coinciding with a whale withdrawing 5.8 million ASTER ($5.58 million) from the exchange, as reported by .

Analysts point out that Ethereum’s crucial $41–$42 support range could shape short-term price moves, with leveraged trades increasing risk. Hyperliquid’s derivatives market is seeing more institutional activity, including a $1 billion SEC staking application for HYPE and substantial ETH orders on Binance. Despite these changes, the crypto market remains unstable, with $222.7 million in short liquidations and $182.6 million in long gains recently reported.

The Solana whale’s losses highlight the dangers of leveraged trading. While the average entry price for SOL was $198.22, the current market has wiped out gains from previous rallies. In comparison, the "Smart Money" whale’s ETH position, with an average entry of $3,741.34, is closer to break-even, though unrealized profits have dropped to $654,000 from a previous peak of $8.61 million.

With uncertainty lingering, whale movements continue to influence market sentiment. The "Smart Money" whale now holds the second-largest ETH long on Hyperliquid, serving as a key signal for Ethereum’s direction. On the other hand, the Solana whale’s exit underscores the vulnerability of high-leverage approaches in turbulent conditions. As institutional interest in crypto derivatives grows and retail traders face mixed signals, the actions of these major players are likely to impact short-term price trends.

As reported by

, a Solana whale also increased their long position by 8,164 SOL, bringing total SOL longs to $105M (569,050.58 SOL).