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Whale trader earns $2M after betting against oil

A trader going by the name Loracle exited a short position in oil early Wednesday, booking roughly $2 million in profit as crude prices dropped sharply on the back of U.S.–Iran ceasefire news.

The position, opened last week, involved a $5 million bet against oil via perpetual futures on Hyperliquid. As crude prices slid more than 15% to below $100 per barrel, the trader closed the position, securing gains, according to Arkham Intelligence.

Loracle’s broader crypto portfolio—including holdings in USDT, USDC and ETH—is now valued at over $8 million.

The trade highlights how decentralized derivatives platforms are increasingly enabling crypto-native traders to profit from volatility in traditional markets. This growing crossover echoes the wealth creation seen during the 2020–21 memecoin boom, when speculative trading minted a wave of new millionaires.

Recent geopolitical tensions have further elevated Hyperliquid’s role as a go-to venue for trading tokenized traditional assets, particularly outside standard market hours.

Trading activity supports that trend. Perpetual futures tied to West Texas Intermediate generated $2.45 billion in volume over the past 24 hours, surpassing those linked to ether. Bitcoin remains the most traded asset overall, while Brent Crude ranks fourth with $1.3 billion in volume.

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A trader known as Loracle closed a bearish oil bet early Wednesday, locking in approximately $2 million in profit as crude prices tumbled following the U.S.–Iran ceasefire.

The crypto whale had opened a $5 million short position in oil perpetual futures on Hyperliquid last week. As prices dropped more than 15% to below $100 per barrel, the position was unwound, securing gains, according to Arkham Intelligence.

Loracle’s total crypto holdings—including USDT, USDC and ETH—are now valued at more than $8 million.

The trade underscores how decentralized platforms are increasingly allowing crypto traders to capitalize on price movements in traditional assets. The trend reflects a broader shift reminiscent of the 2020–21 memecoin boom, when high-risk trading strategies generated outsized returns for a new class of market participants.

Ongoing geopolitical volatility has further strengthened Hyperliquid’s role as a key venue for trading tokenized traditional markets, especially during periods when conventional exchanges are closed.

Recent activity data highlights the momentum. Perpetual futures tied to West Texas Intermediate recorded $2.45 billion in trading volume over the past 24 hours, surpassing ether-linked contracts. Bitcoin continues to dominate overall volumes, while Brent Crude ranks fourth with $1.3 billion in turnover.