Ethereum Whale Nets $274 Million Profit in Strategic Exit Amid Market Jitters

Source: CryptoNewsNet Original Title: Ethereum Whale Nets $274 Million Profit in Strategic Exit Amid Market Jitters Original Link: An early Ethereum investor has likely completed a full exit from their ETH position after on-chain data showed the transfer of holdings to a centralized exchange. The sell-off is estimated to have generated around $274 million in profit.

This comes as ETH continues to face selling pressure from US institutional investors as well. Still, some market analysts remain optimistic about the prospects of the second-largest cryptocurrency.

Ethereum OG Whale Exits With 344% Gain

Blockchain analytics firm Lookonchain reported that the investor accumulated 154,076 ETH at an average price of $517. Since late last week, the wallet began transferring ETH to a centralized exchange.

Over the past 2 days, he deposited another 40,251 ETH ($124 million) into the exchange and still holds 26,000 ETH ($80.15 million), Lookonchain posted on January 10.

Several hours ago, the investor moved the final 26,000 ETH to the exchange. According to Lookonchain, the investor has made an estimated total profit of around $274 million, representing a gain of approximately 344%.

These latest transfers follow a pattern of gradual deposits that began much earlier. Arkham data indicates that the investor initially sent a total of 137 ETH to a centralized exchange approximately eight months ago.

This was followed by a transfer of 17,000 ETH three months ago and another 18,000 ETH roughly one month ago, suggesting a long-term, staged exit strategy rather than a single sell-off.

The timing of the whale’s exit also aligns with broader signs of institutional caution. The premium index for ETH on a major compliance platform remains deeply negative. The metric tracks the price difference between a major compliance platform, often used as a gauge of US institutional sentiment, and certain offshore platforms, which reflects broader global retail activity.

A negative reading indicates that ETH is trading at a discount on major platforms compared to offshore platforms, suggesting elevated selling pressure from US-based institutional participants. This trend has persisted, signaling continued risk-off positioning among professional investors.

Is Ethereum “Undervalued?”

Despite the ongoing selling pressure, some analysts maintain a positive outlook on ETH, choosing to look beyond short-term volatility.

Quinten François has suggested that Ethereum appears “massively undervalued” when comparing its economic activity with its price.

Similarly, market observers added that the clear mismatch becomes evident when examining the data. According to the analysis, the volume of economic activity settling on Ethereum has continued to grow, even during periods when ETH’s price has lagged behind that expansion.

The analysis noted that large investors continue to prioritize Ethereum for its uptime, liquidity, settlement reliability, and regulatory clarity.

As more activity moves onchain, transaction volume and fee generation increase, raising the economic weight placed on Ethereum’s base layer. When usage stays high, ETH has historically struggled to remain flat for long. We will go higher as adoption continues. Always zoom out.

From a technical perspective, analysts are identifying key patterns that could support a price recovery.

The falling wedge and channel are broken. Consolidation is complete and the target sits above $4,400. The trend has shifted, suggesting potential upside movement.

The push and pull between short-term selling and market confidence make the current Ethereum market a complex one. Early adopter exits and negative premium signals indicate caution, while growing economic activity underpins ecosystem strength. Whether the ETH price ultimately aligns with these fundamentals remains to be seen.