Massive ETH Sales Trigger 23.5% Drop as Ethereum Foundation and Whales Move $599M

• Ethereum Foundation’s 35K ETH sale precedes a 9% price drop, fueling market instability.
• Jump Trading’s 88.9K ETH deposits linked to a 20% Ethereum price plunge on August 5.
• ICO-linked whale “0xe17” and diamond-hand whale “0x682” deposit 73.5K ETH, triggering notable market reactions.

Ethereum has faced challenges recently, with its price plunging twice in the past month by a sharp 23.5%. Data reveals that the sale of 197,800 ETH, totaling approximately $599 million, played a major role in these price dumps. The sales were orchestrated by four key players: the Ethereum Foundation, Jump Trading, an ICO-linked whale, and a diamond-hand whale. Each of these entities contributed to the recent market downturn.

Ethereum Foundation’s Strategic Moves

On August 23, the Ethereum Foundation made a move by depositing 35,000 ETH, valued at $93.8 million, to the Kraken exchange. This transaction preceded a 9% drop in Ethereum’s price just five days later. 

The Ethereum Foundation has a history of moving large amounts of ETH before substantial price declines, particularly in 2024. Currently, the foundation holds 275,000 ETH, worth approximately $677 million, positioning itself as a major force in the market.

Jump Trading’s Impact on Ethereum Prices

Between July 25 and August 6, Jump Trading was another major player, depositing a net 88,917 ETH, valued at $276 million, to various centralized exchanges . Notably, on August 5, Ethereum’s price experienced a sharp 20% decline, coinciding with these deposits. 

After the first crash on August 5, Jump Trading appeared to pause its ETH deposits. Currently, Jump Trading holds a combined total of 29,000 staked ETH and 24,600 ETH, totaling $132.4 million. Their actions have significantly influenced the recent price movements.

Whale Activities and Market Reaction

An ICO-linked whale, known by the address ‘0xe17’, has also played a crucial role in the recent price drops. Since July 9, this whale has deposited 48,500 ETH, valued at $154 million, to the OKX exchange at an average price of $3,173. 

This included 38,500 ETH deposited before the first price dump on August 5 and an additional 10,000 ETH before the second dump. Currently, this whale holds 303,000 ETH, with 15,600 ETH in the frequently used wallet for OKX deposits.

Similarly, a diamond-hand whale, identified by the address ‘0x682’, deposited 25,000 ETH, valued at $73.9 million, to Kraken on two separate occasions, both preceding notable price drops. The first deposit of 10,000 ETH at $3,420 on July 25 was followed by a 7.6% drop, while the second deposit of 15,000 ETH at $2,645 on August 20 led to a 2.5% drop. This whale currently holds 41,600 ETH, with an estimated total profit of $127 million.

These strategic moves by the Ethereum Foundation, Jump Trading, and key whales have contributed substantially to the recent turbulence in Ethereum’s price, underlining the influence of major players in the crypto market.