Recent on-chain data has revealed two significant whale movements involving Ethereum (ETH), painting a complex picture of market sentiment. On May 24, 2025, an anonymous wallet beginning with 0x55C1 deposited 43,235 ETH, worth approximately $74.68 million, to Binance, as reported by Onchain Lens. Large deposits to centralized exchanges are typically interpreted as bearish signals, suggesting the holder may be preparing to sell. The same address still retains 43,562 ETH in staking protocols, sitting on an unrealized loss of around $12.7 million, likely due to ETH's price fluctuations around $1,725 at the time.
In contrast, another major player on the decentralized exchange Hyperliquid has been closing a massive short position. The address pension-usdt.eth, which had opened a 3x leveraged short on 60,000 ETH valued at $107 million with an average entry of $1,810, closed $20.47 million worth of the position over the past two days, realizing profits. The closure of a short position involves buying back ETH, which can exert upward pressure on the price. The trader still holds a remaining portion with an unrealized profit of $3.18 million, indicating a disciplined risk management approach.
These contrasting moves highlight the divergent strategies among Ethereum whales. While the Binance deposit may signal intent to reduce exposure, the short closure on Hyperliquid reflects profit-taking after a successful bearish bet. The combination of such signals leaves the short-term direction of ETH uncertain, with traders watching for further whale activity and broader market trends.