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Working Paper
How Do Large, Sophisticated Cryptocurrency Trades Impact Broader DeFi Market Dynamics?
Using transaction-level data for Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) matched to public “Whale Alert” signals, we examine how large-scale cryptocurrency trades shape market microstructure. Specifically, we test whether whale transactions alter the composition of active non-whale participants, trigger leader-follower herd behavior, and elevate short-term return volatility. We document a stark divergence between networks: Whale alerts heavily reshape (native) BTC participation by mobilizing previously inactive retail and institutional investors, whereas ETH and WBTC ...