What happened?
A crypto whale known as the “Trump insider” added 200 BTC to his Bitcoin short, taking his total short position to about 900 BTC (roughly $99.6M) using 10x leverage. The position currently shows an unrealized loss of about $1.1M, with an average entry near $109,521 and a liquidation price around $141,072. This move follows earlier large bets — he’d previously deposited $30M in USDC, opened a $76M short, and at times had total short exposure reported up to 3,440 BTC.
Who does this affect?
Derivatives traders and anyone using leverage are most exposed, since big short positions can shift funding rates and create squeeze risks. Market makers, exchanges, and counterparties could feel the impact if the trade causes rapid price moves or forced liquidations. Retail and institutional investors watching the market may change their positions or sentiment in response, amplifying price swings.
Why does this matter?
A near-$100M 10x short is large enough to influence market sentiment and push funding rates negative, which can add downward pressure on price. If Bitcoin moves toward the trader’s liquidation level it could trigger a short squeeze, while a drop would validate the bet and potentially amplify sell-side pressure and volatility. With macro factors like expected Fed rate cuts and rising institutional optimism also in play, the market faces conflicting forces that could produce sharp, fast moves — so traders should expect higher volatility and manage leverage carefully.