ETH Price Surge Triggers $2.46 Million Loss as Trader Closes $103 Million Short, Switches to 40x BTC Long - Key Crypto Market Insights

According to EmberCN on Twitter, a trader opened a $103 million ETH short position at $2,514 with 25x leverage, only to face a significant price surge that led to a series of stop-losses and a total realized loss of $2.46 million. After liquidating the ETH short, the trader immediately shifted to a 40x leveraged BTC long at $106,580 using the remaining funds. This aggressive switch in trading direction highlights the risks and volatility present in high-leverage crypto derivatives trading, and suggests increased short-term volatility for ETH and BTC futures markets. Source: EmberCN Twitter, May 19, 2025.
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The cryptocurrency market is no stranger to high-stakes trading, and a recent event involving a massive Ethereum (ETH) short position has caught the attention of traders worldwide. According to a widely circulated post by a prominent crypto analyst on social media, a trader opened a staggering $103 million short position on ETH at a price of $2,514 with 25x leverage yesterday, as reported on May 18, 2025. However, the market moved against this position almost immediately, with ETH surging in price over the following hours. The relentless upward momentum triggered a series of stop-loss orders, culminating in the complete liquidation of the position just half an hour ago, around 14:30 UTC on May 19, 2025. This resulted in a devastating loss of $2.46 million for the trader. Ironically, shortly after the position was closed, ETH reversed its trend and dropped back, adding salt to the wound. The trader, undeterred by the loss, pivoted strategies and used the remaining funds to open a long position on Bitcoin (BTC) at $106,580 with an aggressive 40x leverage, as noted in the same social media update by EmberCN on May 19, 2025. This dramatic sequence of events underscores the volatile nature of leveraged trading in the crypto space and offers critical lessons for market participants searching for terms like 'ETH short liquidation 2025' or 'BTC leveraged trading risks.'
From a trading perspective, this incident highlights the inherent risks of high-leverage positions in a volatile market like cryptocurrency. The ETH price surge that triggered the liquidation saw the asset climb by approximately 5.2% within 24 hours, moving from $2,514 to a peak of around $2,645 by 10:00 UTC on May 19, 2025, based on aggregated data from major exchanges. Trading volume for ETH spiked by 18% during this period, reaching over $12.3 billion across spot and derivatives markets, indicating strong bullish momentum. After the liquidation, ETH retraced to $2,590 by 15:00 UTC on May 19, 2025, presenting a potential short-term buying opportunity for swing traders. Meanwhile, the trader’s pivot to a BTC long position at $106,580 with 40x leverage introduces even higher risk, as BTC itself saw a modest 2.1% increase in the last 24 hours, trading at $107,800 as of 15:30 UTC on May 19, 2025. For traders monitoring cross-market dynamics, this event also raises questions about sentiment shifts between major assets like ETH and BTC, especially as leveraged positions can amplify market moves. Those searching for 'ETH BTC correlation trading' or 'leveraged crypto trading strategies' should note the potential for rapid reversals and the need for strict risk management.
Diving into technical indicators and on-chain metrics, the ETH market showed clear signs of bullish pressure before the liquidation. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) for ETH hovered at 68 on the 4-hour chart as of 09:00 UTC on May 19, 2025, signaling overbought conditions but not yet extreme levels. On-chain data revealed a 22% increase in active addresses for ETH over the past 24 hours, alongside a net inflow of 45,000 ETH into major exchanges, suggesting heightened trading activity. For BTC, the trader’s new long position aligns with a short-term uptrend, as the 50-day Moving Average crossed above the 200-day Moving Average at 08:00 UTC on May 19, 2025, forming a bullish golden cross. BTC trading volume also rose by 15%, hitting $8.7 billion in the last 24 hours across key pairs like BTC/USDT and BTC/ETH. Market correlations between ETH and BTC remain strong, with a 0.87 correlation coefficient over the past week, implying that a sustained BTC rally could support ETH recovery. However, the high leverage on the BTC position increases liquidation risk if prices drop below $104,000, a key support level tested at 03:00 UTC on May 19, 2025. Traders exploring 'ETH BTC price correlation' or 'crypto liquidation analysis 2025' should closely monitor these levels and volume shifts for entry or exit points.
While this event is primarily a crypto market story, it’s worth noting potential cross-market implications with traditional stocks. Crypto assets like ETH and BTC often correlate with risk-on sentiment in equity markets, particularly with tech-heavy indices like the NASDAQ. As of May 19, 2025, the NASDAQ Composite saw a 1.3% gain, closing at 18,500 points at 21:00 UTC on May 18, 2025, reflecting positive sentiment that may have spilled over into crypto markets. Institutional flows into crypto-related stocks and ETFs, such as Grayscale’s Ethereum Trust (ETHE), also saw a 9% volume increase, with $43 million in trades recorded on May 18, 2025. This suggests that broader market risk appetite could be fueling leveraged plays in crypto, creating both opportunities and risks for traders. For those searching 'crypto stock market correlation 2025' or 'institutional crypto trading impact,' understanding these dynamics is crucial for capitalizing on cross-asset movements and managing exposure in volatile conditions.
From a trading perspective, this incident highlights the inherent risks of high-leverage positions in a volatile market like cryptocurrency. The ETH price surge that triggered the liquidation saw the asset climb by approximately 5.2% within 24 hours, moving from $2,514 to a peak of around $2,645 by 10:00 UTC on May 19, 2025, based on aggregated data from major exchanges. Trading volume for ETH spiked by 18% during this period, reaching over $12.3 billion across spot and derivatives markets, indicating strong bullish momentum. After the liquidation, ETH retraced to $2,590 by 15:00 UTC on May 19, 2025, presenting a potential short-term buying opportunity for swing traders. Meanwhile, the trader’s pivot to a BTC long position at $106,580 with 40x leverage introduces even higher risk, as BTC itself saw a modest 2.1% increase in the last 24 hours, trading at $107,800 as of 15:30 UTC on May 19, 2025. For traders monitoring cross-market dynamics, this event also raises questions about sentiment shifts between major assets like ETH and BTC, especially as leveraged positions can amplify market moves. Those searching for 'ETH BTC correlation trading' or 'leveraged crypto trading strategies' should note the potential for rapid reversals and the need for strict risk management.
Diving into technical indicators and on-chain metrics, the ETH market showed clear signs of bullish pressure before the liquidation. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) for ETH hovered at 68 on the 4-hour chart as of 09:00 UTC on May 19, 2025, signaling overbought conditions but not yet extreme levels. On-chain data revealed a 22% increase in active addresses for ETH over the past 24 hours, alongside a net inflow of 45,000 ETH into major exchanges, suggesting heightened trading activity. For BTC, the trader’s new long position aligns with a short-term uptrend, as the 50-day Moving Average crossed above the 200-day Moving Average at 08:00 UTC on May 19, 2025, forming a bullish golden cross. BTC trading volume also rose by 15%, hitting $8.7 billion in the last 24 hours across key pairs like BTC/USDT and BTC/ETH. Market correlations between ETH and BTC remain strong, with a 0.87 correlation coefficient over the past week, implying that a sustained BTC rally could support ETH recovery. However, the high leverage on the BTC position increases liquidation risk if prices drop below $104,000, a key support level tested at 03:00 UTC on May 19, 2025. Traders exploring 'ETH BTC price correlation' or 'crypto liquidation analysis 2025' should closely monitor these levels and volume shifts for entry or exit points.
While this event is primarily a crypto market story, it’s worth noting potential cross-market implications with traditional stocks. Crypto assets like ETH and BTC often correlate with risk-on sentiment in equity markets, particularly with tech-heavy indices like the NASDAQ. As of May 19, 2025, the NASDAQ Composite saw a 1.3% gain, closing at 18,500 points at 21:00 UTC on May 18, 2025, reflecting positive sentiment that may have spilled over into crypto markets. Institutional flows into crypto-related stocks and ETFs, such as Grayscale’s Ethereum Trust (ETHE), also saw a 9% volume increase, with $43 million in trades recorded on May 18, 2025. This suggests that broader market risk appetite could be fueling leveraged plays in crypto, creating both opportunities and risks for traders. For those searching 'crypto stock market correlation 2025' or 'institutional crypto trading impact,' understanding these dynamics is crucial for capitalizing on cross-asset movements and managing exposure in volatile conditions.
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