Whale
An entity (individual or institution) holding a large amount of cryptocurrency, capable of moving markets with their trades.
In-Depth Explanation
Whales can significantly impact prices, especially in less liquid markets. Whale watching—tracking large wallet movements—is a popular analysis technique. A whale selling can trigger cascading liquidations; whale accumulation can signal confidence. On-chain data makes whale tracking more transparent than in traditional markets.
Related Terms
More in Trading & Markets
View all →Slippage
The difference between the expected price of a trade and the actual executed price.
Maximal Extractable Value
MEVValue that can be extracted by reordering, inserting, or censoring transactions within a block.
Sandwich Attack
An MEV extraction technique where an attacker places transactions before and after a victim's trade to profit from the price impact.
Frontrunning
Placing a transaction ahead of a known pending transaction to profit from the anticipated price movement.