The wild west that is the crypto space is full of drama on all fronts, and with Ethereum (ETH) price movement has been no different. With an increasing sense of market jitters and minor corrections, one of the largest Ethereum whales made their move. In a significant move, they bought the dip with a whopping $39 million worth of ETH. This begs the question: Is this a savvy "buy the dip" strategy, or a risky gamble? Here at BlockOpulent, we unpack these power plays. Here’s our take on the ideas floating around in the minds of the crypto elite, and what their moves could spell for Ethereum going forward.
Decoding the Whale's Move
On June 10, an Ethereum whale opened an $11.15 million long position on ETH with 25x leverage, indicating confidence in the asset's future price appreciation. This wasn’t a gamble—the same ETH investor had already made $30 million in profits from earlier ETH trades. On June 15, 2025, whales orchestrated the classic whale big move by collectively gobbling up $2.5 billion ETH. That’s their largest haul since 2018 and demonstrated their consistent confidence in Ethereum’s future price appreciation. This whale accumulated 48,825 ETH for an average price of $2,605 per ETH, amounting to a total value of $127 million. This accumulation was during a local low created through global tensions and option expiries, indicating major long-term faith. On June 21, mega-whales scooped up over 116,893 ETH worth $265.30 million, further indicating their confidence in the asset's potential for price appreciation.
That $39 million purchase is only part of the story. According to new data, Ethereum whales have been buying ETH at the fastest rate since 2018. In the last 30 days alone, large holders have accumulated a net 1.49 million ETH into their addresses. This leap forward is all of our infrastructural dreams come true—an absolutely mind-blowing $3.79 billion in value! This is a 3.72% increase in their combined holdings and is a clear show of conviction in the long-term potential of Ethereum.
This accumulation trend is happening at the same time that retail traders are cashing out their profits, possibly indicating a turn in sentiment. Indeed, if smaller investors may be cashing out after a big recent run-up, whales are doubling down, perhaps betting on more upside. This divergence in behavior serves to underscore the distinct strategies and risk appetites that exist within the crypto market.
The "Buy the Dip" Strategy: Risk vs. Reward
“Buying the dip” is one of the most popular investment strategies, based on the notion that a momentary drop in value presents a chance to buy an asset on sale. It’s important to know what you’re getting into.
Potential Pitfalls of Buying the Dip
Assuming You Can't Lose: The most dangerous mindset when buying the dip is assuming that the price will inevitably rebound. This can lead to over-investing and significant losses if the market continues to decline.
Further Decline: It's essential to consider how much further the price could drop. A further 25% drop from your entry point would mean a total 35% drawdown, translating into a significant paper loss.
Volatility: Increased volatility without a corresponding increase in expected return should be a red flag. If volatility triples while expected return remains unchanged, a risk-averse investor should be selling, not buying.
Lack of Historical Precedent: In situations with very little historical precedent and extremely volatile outcomes, it's crucial to be cautious when buying the dip. Crypto, by its nature, is often navigating uncharted territory.
Incorrect Timing: Buying the dip too soon or too late can result in significant losses, as the market may continue to decline or rebound before you can capitalize on it.
Bullish Signals and the Pectra Upgrade
Despite the aforementioned risks, there are several reasons to feel bullish on Ethereum’s long-term trajectory. Ether's price has risen 90% in the past two months, fueled by several factors, including optimism surrounding the upcoming Pectra upgrade and the restructuring of the Ethereum Foundation's core team.
With the Pectra upgrade, Ethereum is looking to make strides towards greater scalability, security, and efficiency. These upgrades are crucial for Ethereum to maintain its position as the leading platform for decentralized applications (dApps) and decentralized finance (DeFi). To adapt to this future, the Ethereum Foundation has restructured its core team. This shift reflects a new emphasis on innovation and growth, invigorating investors’ confidence.
The current accumulation trend among whales mirrors behavior last seen in 2017, underscoring the scale and intensity of recent large-holder buying. Whaling for whales’ sake This historical parallel, which we’ve seen repeated in the past few years, would point to whales expecting a similar bull run soon. Some analysts are even calling for a $10,000 ETH price target, adding to the bullish excitement.
The Role of Lido Staking
Lido provides a liquid staking solution, allowing you to stake any amount of Ethereum. In exchange, you get stETH, which you can use across different DeFi apps. Significantly, this innovative new development features prominently in the Ethereum ecosystem and is likely to have a major impact on its price.
How Lido Impacts Ethereum
- Increased Liquidity: Lido provides a liquid staking solution, allowing users to stake any amount of Ethereum and receive stETH in return, which can be used in DeFi applications. This increases the liquidity of staked Ethereum, potentially leading to increased investor participation.
- Reduced Selling Pressure: By allowing users to stake and unstake at any time, Lido reduces the selling pressure on Ethereum, as investors can earn rewards without having to lock up their assets.
- Increased Staking Adoption: Lido's user-friendly interface and low minimum staking requirements (0.00001 ETH) make it easier for investors to participate in staking, potentially increasing the overall staking adoption and reducing the circulating supply of Ethereum.
- Price Impact: With a significant portion of Ethereum's supply (currently over 27%) staked through Lido, the platform's popularity and growth can contribute to a decrease in the circulating supply, potentially leading to increased demand and, in turn, a positive impact on Ethereum's price.
- Investor Confidence: Lido's decentralized governance, smart contract audits, and insurance against potential slashing risks can increase investor confidence in the platform, leading to increased adoption and investment in Ethereum.
Lido’s decentralized governance and comprehensive smart contract audits increase investor confidence in the platform. This trust can lead to more adoption and in turn, more investment into Ethereum. With a significant portion of Ethereum's supply (currently over 27%) staked through Lido, the platform's popularity and growth can contribute to a decrease in the circulating supply, potentially leading to increased demand and a positive impact on Ethereum's price.
Technical Analysis and Future Price Movements
In addition to whale activity, some of these fundamental factors can provide useful insights into the cryptocurrency market. Moreover, technical analysis can proactively evaluate the likelihood of future price movements. Looking at chart patterns, trend lines, technical indicators provides all kinds of hints as to where major support and resistance levels may be. It further shows potential breakout and breakdown areas.
As always, keep in mind that technical analysis is not a crystal ball. Combine it with other forms of analysis to maximize its potential. As we mentioned above, the crypto market is extremely volatile and unpredictable, and no indicator can provide certainty of future price movement.
The BlockOpulent Take
So, is the whale’s $39 million ETH purchase wise? It's impossible to say for sure. With whales constantly building up their assets, we’re generating this good thrilling pattern. Moreover, the favorable changes introduced by Ethereum’s Pectra upgrade and the prospect of Lido staking have contributed to a bullish outlook.
At BlockOpulent, we want all of our readers to do their own extensive research and always be cautious when investing in any cryptocurrency. The competitive landscape is laden with opportunity, but with peril. First, don’t just copy what the whales do—use the whales as a jumping-off point to conduct your own analysis.
Keep in mind, this news isn’t just regurgitated here — it’s decoded, dissected, and delivered with a jolt of anti-establishment energy. Until then, stay informed, stay vigilant, and help us navigate this brave new world of crypto with eyes wide open.
