News 
March 17, 2025 
4 min. 
The price of Bitcoin (BTC) has experienced significant volatility in recent weeks. The cryptocurrency market is inherently dynamic and volatile, with large investors, commonly referred to as “whales,” playing a crucial role in shaping market trends.
Recently, a Bitcoin whale caught the attention of the crypto community by making a high-risk bet on a short-term decline in BTC’s price. This was executed through a leveraged short position, a strategy that profits if Bitcoin’s price falls.
Bitcoin Price: Whale Makes a Risky Move Against BTC’s Trend
This large investor opened a 40x leveraged short position for over 4,442 Bitcoins, valued at more than $368 million. This means the investor is wagering on a significant price drop, with potential profits if BTC reaches their target price.
A 40x leverage indicates that the investor is borrowing funds to amplify their position size by 40 times. While this can significantly increase potential gains, it also drastically raises the risk of liquidation if the market moves against the position. Even small price fluctuations can lead to the automatic closure of the trade, resulting in substantial losses.
The whale’s $368 million position was opened at $84,043 per BTC and is at risk of liquidation if Bitcoin’s price surpasses $85,592. In simple terms, liquidation occurs when the price moves against the leveraged position, and the investor lacks sufficient funds to cover the losses. When this happens, the exchange automatically closes the position to prevent further losses.
In this case, if BTC’s price rises above $85,592, the whale could lose a significant amount of money. Although the investor has already generated over $2 million in unrealized profit, they have also incurred more than $200,000 in funding fee losses—these are costs associated with maintaining leveraged positions over time.
FOMC Decision Could Trigger the Whale’s Liquidation
This leveraged bet comes at a time of market uncertainty and anticipation, ahead of a major week for macroeconomic announcements, including the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on March 19.
The FOMC’s decisions regarding interest rates, monetary policy, and inflation can significantly impact investor sentiment toward risk assets like Bitcoin. Markets currently expect the Federal Reserve (Fed) to keep interest rates stable. However, any unexpected hawkish signals—indicating a more aggressive stance on controlling inflation—could pressure Bitcoin and other risk assets, leading to heightened selling activity and market volatility.
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To avoid negative volatility and potential price declines before the FOMC meeting, Bitcoin needs to trade above $81,000 at the beginning of the week. This level is considered a critical support zone, and holding above it could signal greater stability and confidence in the market.
However, the whale’s high-stakes bet, combined with uncertainty surrounding macroeconomic announcements, creates an atmosphere of tension and speculation. As a result, Bitcoin’s price could see significant fluctuations in the coming days.
