A crypto whale loses over $12M after holding 3.8B PUMP tokens for three months, buying at $19.53M and selling at $7.3M.
A prominent crypto whale has incurred a significant loss of over $12 million after holding 3.806 billion PUMP tokens for nearly three months.
The buyer purchased the tokens on Binance between September 12 and November 4, 2023, at an average price of $0.00513. After consolidating and transferring the tokens to FalconX, the whale faced a sharp decline in value, resulting in a 62% loss.
Whale Accumulates Massive PUMP Position on Binance
Between September and November, the whale, identified by the wallet address 3QB9kHf37NC2xAKTBfPyBve6fNt6TPXdUS1AvVwbgfuh, purchased a massive 3.806 billion PUMP tokens for a total of $19.53 million. These purchases came across three separate wallets, each contributing to the long-term accumulation strategy.
At an average price of $0.00513, the whale expected that PUMP’s value would increase over time, justifying the significant investment.
What a brutal loss!
Whale 3QB9kH accumulated 3.806B $PUMP($19.53M) from #Binance between Sep 12 and Nov 4 at an average price of $0.00513.
3 days ago, he deposited all 3.806B $PUMP ($7.3M) into #FalconX to sell, incurring a total loss of over $12M(-62%).… pic.twitter.com/XlJj2HOeiD
— Lookonchain (@lookonchain) December 23, 2025
The decision to hold the position across multiple wallets also suggested a strategy of patience, betting on a future rise in the token’s price.
The whale had invested heavily in PUMP, likely anticipating strong growth in the token’s value over the following months. However, the token’s price did not perform as expected, ultimately leading to the whale’s substantial loss.
Despite the whale’s long-term outlook, the price of PUMP began to decline. After three months of holding, the whale faced a much smaller position, with a current value of $7.3 million, reflecting a drastic drop from the original $19.53 million investment.
Whale Moves PUMP Tokens to FalconX, Preparing for Sale
After the three-month holding period, the whale decided to take action by consolidating all 3.806 billion PUMP tokens into the main address.
Shortly after, the entire balance was transferred to FalconX, a move that strongly suggests an impending sale. The transfer marked the beginning of the process of liquidating the whale’s holdings in PUMP tokens.
🐳 A whale has deposited 3.8B $PUMP, worth $7.57M, into FalconX after holding it for 3 months, facing a loss of $12.22M
The whale initially withdrew these $PUMP for $19.53M from Binance
Address:
3QB9kHf37NC2xAKTBfPyBve6fNt6TPXdUS1AvVwbgfuh pic.twitter.com/CiM2fxeUrg— Cup🧪 (@Cupra0x) December 23, 2025
At the time of the transfer, the whale’s tokens were worth approximately $7.3 million, a sharp decline from the original purchase price. This decrease shows the whale was likely facing a major loss when the tokens were finally sold.
With the current value sitting far below the initial $19.53 million, the whale’s strategy had clearly backfired.
Although the whale had patiently held onto the tokens, the sale, when executed, would confirm a loss of over $12 million. The loss represents a painful 62% drop in value, highlighting the volatile nature of cryptocurrency markets and the risks involved in holding onto positions for too long.
Related Reading: New Whale Buys $23.5M in Pump Coin as Price Climbs Despite Market Volatility
Long-Term Holding in Crypto, A Risky Strategy in Volatile Markets
This incident illustrates the risks of holding large positions in cryptocurrency for extended periods.
While long-term holding can sometimes lead to profitable returns, the crypto market’s volatility means that waiting for gains may not always result in success. In this case, the whale’s decision to hold PUMP for three months was met with a sharp decline in the token’s value.
The $12 million loss underscores how swiftly market conditions can change, particularly in the highly speculative world of cryptocurrencies. In this example, market fluctuations can affect long-term investments, even with well-calculated positions not immune to price drops.
The whale’s experience serves as a cautionary tale for other crypto investors. It emphasizes the importance of being aware of market volatility and managing risk, especially when holding large amounts of cryptocurrency over extended periods.
This event serves as a reminder that crypto markets can be unpredictable, and even the most patient investors may face challenges.
