In a striking display of market savvy, the hacker behind the Radiant Capital exploit has once again turned stolen funds into substantial profits through strategic swing trading of Ethereum (ETH). According to blockchain analytics from @lookonchain, the perpetrator purchased 4,913 ETH valued at $20.47 million at an average price of $4,168 per ETH just three days prior to August 23, 2025. Then, over the past five hours leading up to the report on that date, they sold 4,131 ETH for $19.52 million at $4,726 per ETH, netting an impressive $2.76 million in gains. This move has ballooned their original stolen stash of $49.5 million to over $105 million, marking a staggering 114% increase. This incident highlights the volatile yet lucrative nature of ETH trading, where precise timing can yield massive returns amid Ethereum's price surges.

Ethereum Price Analysis and Trading Insights

Diving deeper into the trading dynamics, the hacker's entry point at $4,168 on August 20, 2025, coincided with a period of Ethereum consolidation following broader market recoveries. ETH had been testing support levels around $4,000, bolstered by positive sentiment from institutional inflows and upcoming network upgrades. The subsequent sale at $4,726 reflects a rapid 13.4% price appreciation within days, driven by heightened trading volumes and bullish momentum. On-chain metrics from that period show Ethereum's daily trading volume spiking to over $15 billion across major exchanges, with the hacker's transactions contributing to this liquidity. For traders eyeing similar opportunities, this underscores the importance of monitoring key resistance levels; ETH recently broke through $4,500, potentially targeting $5,000 if buying pressure sustains. However, risks remain high, as sudden sell-offs could push prices back to $4,200 support, especially with ongoing regulatory scrutiny in the crypto space.

Impact on Broader Crypto Market Sentiment

The hacker's success not only amplifies concerns about security in decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms like Radiant Capital but also influences overall market sentiment. With ETH's market cap hovering around $550 billion as of late August 2025, such high-profile trades can sway retail and institutional flows. Analysts note correlations with Bitcoin (BTC), where ETH often follows BTC's lead; a BTC rally above $100,000 could propel ETH further. Trading pairs like ETH/BTC and ETH/USDT showed increased volatility, with 24-hour volumes exceeding $10 billion on pairs alone. For investors, this event presents cross-market opportunities, such as hedging with ETH derivatives or exploring AI-driven tokens that benefit from Ethereum's scalability. Yet, it serves as a cautionary tale: while swing trading can generate quick profits, it requires vigilant risk management, including stop-loss orders at critical levels like $4,500 to mitigate downside risks from flash crashes.

Looking ahead, the growth of the hacker's portfolio to $105 million prompts questions about potential liquidation strategies and their ripple effects on ETH liquidity. If they continue trading, it could inject artificial volatility, affecting arbitrage opportunities across exchanges. Traders should watch on-chain indicators, such as large wallet movements and gas fees, which surged 20% during the sale period on August 23, 2025. In the stock market context, this ties into tech-heavy indices like the Nasdaq, where crypto correlations are evident—rising ETH prices often boost blockchain-related stocks, offering diversified trading plays. Ultimately, this narrative reinforces Ethereum's role as a high-reward asset, but with inherent risks amplified by illicit activities. For those engaging in ETH trading, focusing on technical indicators like RSI (currently overbought at 70) and moving averages could signal entry points, while broader market implications suggest monitoring institutional ETF flows for sustained upward trends.