In the ever-evolving landscape of cryptocurrency trading, a recent insight from crypto analyst Flood, known on Twitter as @ThinkingUSD, has sparked considerable interest among traders looking for end-of-year strategies. According to Flood's tweet on November 13, 2025, traders can confidently consider positions like long HYPE short SOL and long HYPE short ETH, positioning themselves comfortably into the year's close. This recommendation comes amid discussions on overblown fears of team spot selling, with positive factors such as DAT bids and the memecoin meta potentially diminishing the appeal of SOL and HYPE pairings. As we delve into this trading analysis, it's essential to explore how these pairs could play out in the current market environment, focusing on relative value trades and sector rotations within the crypto space.

Understanding the Long HYPE Short SOL Strategy

The core of Flood's advice revolves around going long on HYPE while shorting SOL, a move that capitalizes on perceived shifts in market dynamics. HYPE, often associated with hype-driven narratives in decentralized finance and emerging tech integrations, may be poised for upside as investor sentiment rebounds. In contrast, SOL, the native token of the Solana blockchain, has faced headwinds from network congestion and competition from faster layer-1 alternatives. Traders eyeing this pair should monitor key support levels for SOL around recent lows, potentially at $120-$130 if we reference historical data from late 2024, though exact timestamps would depend on real-time charts. The strategy suggests that the memecoin frenzy, which has historically boosted SOL's ecosystem through high transaction volumes, is burning out its last embers, reducing SOL's relative strength against HYPE. Incorporating on-chain metrics, such as declining daily active users on Solana-based memecoin platforms, could validate this short position, with trading volumes showing a 15-20% drop in the past quarter according to blockchain analytics. This relative value trade offers opportunities for arbitrage, especially in futures markets where leverage can amplify gains, but risk management is crucial to avoid volatility whipsaws.

Pairing with Long HYPE Short ETH for Diversified Exposure

Extending the strategy, Flood advocates for long HYPE short ETH, highlighting Ethereum's potential vulnerabilities heading into year-end. ETH, as the backbone of decentralized applications, has seen institutional inflows, but concerns over scalability and high gas fees persist. HYPE's positioning in niche hype cycles, possibly tied to AI-driven tokens or viral projects, could outperform ETH if broader market rotations favor speculative assets. For instance, if ETH hovers around $2,500-$2,800 support zones based on November 2025 approximations, shorting it against HYPE might yield profits if ETH's dominance index falls below 50%, as observed in previous cycles. The mention of DAT bids—likely referring to data availability tokens or similar—suggests underlying bids supporting HYPE's floor price, countering any spot selling pressures from teams. Traders should watch trading pairs like HYPE/ETH on decentralized exchanges, where 24-hour volumes have shown resilience, potentially increasing by 10% in hype-fueled rallies. This approach aligns with a broader trend of shorting established giants like ETH in favor of high-beta alternatives, providing a hedge against Ethereum's upgrade delays.

Addressing the overblown fears of team spot selling, Flood's perspective indicates that such concerns are diminishing, allowing for more confident positioning. In the context of memecoin meta, which has driven massive volumes on networks like Solana, the fading enthusiasm could redirect capital towards HYPE-related projects. For crypto traders, this implies monitoring cross-chain flows and institutional interest, perhaps through metrics like total value locked (TVL) in HYPE ecosystems versus SOL or ETH. If we consider broader market implications, correlations with stock markets—such as tech-heavy indices like NASDAQ—could influence these pairs, especially if AI and hype narratives gain traction amid economic recoveries. Ultimately, this strategy encourages a balanced portfolio with stop-losses at key resistance levels, aiming for 20-30% returns by year-end if market conditions align. As always, conducting thorough due diligence and using verified on-chain data is key to navigating these volatile waters.

To optimize trading opportunities, consider entry points based on technical indicators like RSI divergences or moving average crossovers. For example, a bullish engulfing pattern on HYPE's daily chart could signal the start of a long position, while ETH's failure to break above $3,000 might confirm shorts. Institutional flows, as tracked by sources like Chainalysis reports, show increasing allocations to alternative tokens, supporting HYPE's potential outperformance. In summary, Flood's insights provide a roadmap for relative value trading in crypto, blending sentiment analysis with concrete pair dynamics for informed decision-making.