Whale Deposits Trigger $16M LIGHT Futures Liquidation

• Five anonymous whale addresses deposited 8.84 million LIGHT (worth $8.2 million) to Bitget exchange over seven hours, according to Lookonchain data.
• LIGHT price surged 252% from $1.35 to $4.75 over three days before crashing 65% below $1 in two hours.
• Futures liquidations reached $16.17 million in 24 hours, ranking third behind BTC and ETH.
• Market structure suggests this is a classic liquidity grab targeting retail leverage, with extreme fear sentiment at 25/100.

VADODARA, December 22, 2025 — Five anonymous whale addresses executed a coordinated deposit of 8.84 million LIGHT tokens, valued at approximately $8.2 million, to the Bitget exchange over a seven-hour window. This daily crypto analysis reveals the token's price subsequently plummeted from a local high of $4.75 to below $1, triggering $16.17 million in futures liquidations within 24 hours. On-chain data indicates this event mirrors historical pump-and-dump patterns, with market sentiment at extreme fear levels of 25/100.

Market Context & Background

Market structure suggests this event is a textbook liquidity grab, similar to the altcoin volatility observed during the 2021 bull market correction. In that period, coordinated whale movements frequently preceded sharp retracements as large holders capitalized on retail FOMO. The current environment, with Bitcoin trading at $88,815 and global crypto sentiment in extreme fear, creates fertile ground for such maneuvers. Historical patterns indicate that when fear dominates, whales exploit thin liquidity in smaller-cap tokens to trigger cascading liquidations. This aligns with broader market dynamics where institutional players test retail resilience, as seen in recent developments like Hong Kong's crypto insurance proposal, which signals growing institutional interest in liquidity mechanisms.

What Happened?

According to Lookonchain, five unidentified whale addresses deposited a total of 8.84 million LIGHT tokens to Bitget between approximately 2:00 AM and 9:00 AM UTC on December 22. The tokens were worth $8.2 million at the time of deposit. Prior to this, LIGHT had experienced a parabolic rally, climbing from $1.35 to $4.75 over three days—a gain of 252%. Within two hours of the deposits, the price collapsed below $1, representing a drop of over 65% from its peak. Concurrently, futures liquidations for LIGHT reached $16.17 million in the past 24 hours, making it the third-largest liquidation volume after Bitcoin and Ethereum, as reported by derivatives tracking platforms.

Technical Analysis & Price Action

Price action analysis reveals a clear Fair Value Gap (FVG) between $2.80 and $3.50, created during the rapid ascent. This zone now acts as a resistance cluster, with the recent crash filling the gap in a violent move. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) on the 4-hour chart spiked above 85 before reversing to 25, indicating extreme overbought conditions followed by oversold territory. Volume profile shows concentrated selling at the $4.75 level, confirming whale distribution. A critical Fibonacci support level at $0.85 (61.8% retracement from the swing low) must hold to prevent further downside. Bullish invalidation is set at $0.75, below which the structure breaks. Bearish invalidation lies at $1.50, a key order block from the initial rally.

By The Numbers

Why It Matters

This event matters because it highlights the asymmetric risk in altcoin markets during periods of extreme fear. For institutions, it the efficiency of liquidity grabs in volatile environments, potentially influencing strategies for larger assets. Retail traders face amplified losses due to leverage, with the $16.17 million in liquidations demonstrating how whale actions can trigger gamma squeezes in derivatives. In the 5-year horizon, such patterns may become more frequent as regulatory frameworks evolve, similar to how SEC guidelines shape market behavior. The ripple effect could pressure correlated altcoins, testing broader market resilience.

Community Sentiment

Market analysts on X/Twitter are divided. Bulls argue this is a healthy correction after an overheated rally, citing historical precedents like the 2021 altcoin season. One trader noted, "Whale deposits often precede consolidation—this could be a buying opportunity if support holds." Bears, however, emphasize the liquidation volume, with one analyst stating, "$16M in liquidations signals excessive leverage; this is a warning for other low-cap tokens." Overall, sentiment leans cautious, reflecting the extreme fear index, with many referencing similar volatility in recent DeFi tokenomics tests.

Price Prediction / Future Outlook

Bullish Case: If LIGHT holds above the Fibonacci support at $0.85, a relief rally toward the FVG at $2.80 is plausible. Reduced selling pressure from whales and stabilizing Bitcoin could catalyze a 50% rebound. Historical patterns suggest such crashes often see sharp recoveries in fear-driven markets, akin to the 2021 bounce-backs.

Bearish Case: A break below $0.75 invalidates bullish structure, targeting lower support near $0.50. Continued whale outflow or broader market downturns, as hinted in Bitcoin bottom projections for 2026, could extend losses by another 30-40%. The high liquidation volume indicates unresolved leverage, risking further cascades.

FAQs

• What caused the LIGHT price crash? The crash was triggered by five whales depositing $8.2 million worth of LIGHT to Bitget, leading to selling pressure and $16.17 million in futures liquidations.
• How does this compare to past crypto events? Similar to the 2021 altcoin corrections, where whale movements preceded sharp retracements during extreme fear sentiment.
• What is a liquidity grab? A strategy where large players manipulate prices to trigger liquidations and profit from volatility, often seen in low-liquidity tokens.
• Should I buy LIGHT after the crash? Market structure suggests caution; analysts recommend waiting for a confirmed hold above $0.85 support before considering entries.
• How does this affect Bitcoin and Ethereum? While direct impact is limited, it highlights broader market fragility, potentially influencing sentiment for major cryptos during extreme fear periods.

Source Note: Market data and factual reporting in this article are sourced from original reports. Commentary and analysis provided by CoinMarketBuzz.