Eric Trump issued a stark warning to cryptocurrency short sellers on August 8, 2025, declaring that betting against Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) would result in severe financial losses. His public statement to 5.8 million followers coincided with major price rallies for both assets, with Bitcoin surging past $117,000 and Ethereum breaking the $4,100 resistance level for the first time since December 2024.
The market movements triggered massive short liquidations exceeding $208 million for Ethereum alone within 24 hours, with $183.6 million coming from short positions. Trump emphasized the risks by comparing the assets to a "moving train" and stated: "It puts a smile on my face to see ETH shorts get smoked today. Stop betting against BTC and ETH – you will be run over." His comments reinforced his consistent bullish stance on both cryptocurrencies.
Analysts attribute the rallies to surging institutional investments – including record inflows into Ethereum ETFs – and favorable regulatory developments like new U.S. stablecoin legislation. Fundstrat's Tom Lee projected Ethereum could reach $16,000 by year-end, mirroring its 2017 bull run, while analyst Carl Moon suggested a $25,000 target if momentum accelerates. Historical parallels were noted with the 2020-2021 liquidations that preceded extended bull markets.