A jaw-dropping headline shook the crypto space: an unknown trader allegedly earned $160–190 million by shorting the market just minutes before a massive crash. But how true is this claim? Here’s what we know so far.

📌 What the sources say

• According to a Medium post, a trader opened short positions worth $110–130M shortly before bearish news hit the markets.
• These positions reportedly netted up to $190M in profits as the market tumbled.
• Some speculated that the person was an early Bitcoin whale who anticipated — or knew of — the downturn.
• Others suggest the trader had insider information, pointing to the precision timing of the positions.

🔍 What makes sense — and what doesn’t

✅ Likely Scenarios

• Defensive positioning ahead of expected volatility is common among whales.
• Cascade liquidations helped amplify the drop — the trader may have simply capitalized on the momentum.
• High leverage likely played a key role in magnifying profits.

❓ What raises eyebrows

• The $190M figure varies across sources — it may be an exaggeration.
• The timing of the short — right before the crash — suggests possible insider knowledge.
• The trader’s identity remains completely anonymous.

📊 Context: A broader selloff

On the same day, the market saw one of the largest liquidation waves of the year, totaling over $19 billion in wiped-out leveraged positions.
This kind of environment often rewards whales who short with precision timing and deep pockets.

🧠 Final Thoughts

The story of the $190M crypto short may be part truth, part hype — but it’s a stark reminder of how vulnerable retail traders are during periods of high leverage and low liquidity.

Whether it was luck, timing, or insider information, someone made a fortune while the rest of the market bled.