Whale Who Lost $18M on Ethereum Shifts Focus to Gold Amid Market Uncertainty

Summary: After incurring significant losses while trading Ethereum, a prominent investor, known as a whale, has shifted their investment strategy towards gold. This shift highlights the growing trend among investors to seek stability amid ongoing market volatility.

Key Takeaways

A whale lost $18 million trading Ethereum and has now invested in gold.
The whale previously bought 31,005 ETH for $110 million before selling for a loss of $92.19 million.
The whale purchased 3,299 tokenized gold (XAUT) for $14.58 million in USDT.
Recent market trends show traditional assets like gold outperforming cryptocurrencies.
A potential cryptocurrency market rebound is anticipated for 2026 according to analysts.

Ethereum ETH Whales

Shift from Ethereum to Gold

An unidentified cryptocurrency investor, often referred to as a whale, has made headlines after experiencing a major financial setback with Ethereum. Lookonchain reported this change on Friday, noting that the whale's strategy to optimize gains from Ethereum investments had not gone as planned. The wallet in question had invested $110 million to acquire 31,005 ETH between November 3 and 7, 2025, averaging a purchase price of $3,581.

As the cryptocurrency market continued to decline, this whale reluctantly sold most of their assets for $92.19 million, resulting in an $18 million loss within a short span of two weeks. Interestingly, the value of the Ethereum holdings has slightly increased to $93.6 million, with the current market price sitting at $3,020, possibly leading to some regret over the earlier sell-off.

Whale's Recent Investment in Gold

In a new development, the whale has demonstrated resilience by shifting investment focus from cryptocurrencies to gold. On Friday, the address "0xFdC" acquired 3,299 tokenized gold tokens (XAUT) for $14.58 million in USDT. This acquisition was made through several transactions, beginning at 05:59 (UTC). The whale purchased these tokens at an average price of $4,421.

This recent move complements a previous gold investment, as the wallet had also purchased XAUT on December 13, albeit in smaller quantities. Currently, this address holds a total of 3,386 XAUT tokens worth approximately $14.92 million. The whale's portfolio has shifted significantly, now comprising $58 million in USDT, $18 million in USDC, and XAUT, a clear indication of a more conservative investment strategy in light of ongoing market volatility.

Performance of Gold and Silver Sparks Investment Discussions

Looking ahead, market analysts had anticipated a prosperous year for Bitcoin and Ethereum in 2025, as these cryptocurrencies had historically outperformed traditional store-of-value assets like gold and silver during previous market cycles. However, this expectation did not materialize last year, as Bitcoin fell by 6% and Ethereum by 11%. Conversely, gold surged by 65%, while silver fared even better with a 147% increase, outperforming many traditional assets including the S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq 100.

There is a noticeable divide among market leaders regarding the narratives surrounding four and five-year business cycles. In light of recent performances, many investors are opting to shift toward assets perceived as safe havens and hedges against unpredictability. This trend further enhances the appeal of these traditional assets.

Nonetheless, there is emerging optimism within the sector that Bitcoin could ignite a broader recovery in the cryptocurrency market. Analysts from the respected asset management firm VanEck are among those forecasting a rebound in 2026.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial advice. The opinions expressed herein reflect the author's views and do not necessarily represent those of The Crypto Basic. Readers are advised to conduct their own research prior to making any investment choices. The Crypto Basic does not accept responsibility for any financial losses incurred.