Bearwhale

A "Bearwhale" in cryptocurrency refers to a trader or investor who holds a significant amount of a particular cryptocurrency and uses their holdings to place large sell orders, typically with the intention of driving down the price of that cryptocurrency. This term is derived from the words "bear" (representing a downward market trend) and "whale" (a colloquial term for someone with a large amount of a particular asset).

Examples and cases of Bearwhales include:

1. 2014 Bitcoin Bearwhale: In 2014, a single seller placed a massive sell order for 30,000 bitcoins on the Bitstamp exchange, causing panic among traders and resulting in a temporary drop in the price of Bitcoin. This event became known as the "Bearwhale Battle".
2. Ethereum Bearwhale: In 2017, there were instances where large sell orders for Ethereum were placed on exchanges, leading to significant price drops. These sell-offs were attributed to Bearwhales attempting to capitalize on short-term price movements.
3. Altcoin Bearwhales: Bearwhales are not limited to Bitcoin or Ethereum but can also be found in other cryptocurrencies. For example, in smaller altcoin markets, a single individual or entity with a large holding of a particular coin can exert significant influence by initiating large sell orders.
4. Market Manipulation: The actions of Bearwhales can sometimes be considered market manipulation, as their large sell orders can create artificial downward pressure on prices, leading to panic selling among other traders. This manipulation can result in short-term price declines but may not necessarily reflect the long-term fundamentals of the cryptocurrency.

In summary, a Bearwhale in cryptocurrency refers to an individual or entity with a substantial holding of a particular digital asset who strategically sells large amounts of that asset to drive down its price, often causing panic among other traders.