Main Points:
- Whales have increased their OM holdings by $275 million despite a 90% crash and negative buzz.
- A $4 million UNI purchase by a single whale hints at an imminent DeFi token breakout.
- Inflows into Threshold Network’s T surged to $121 million, coinciding with Apollo Capital’s $227 000 TBTC bridge investment.
- Macroeconomic catalysts—like President Trump’s tariff suspension—have revived market confidence and whale accumulation.
- New whale favorites include SUI, XRP, and ONDO as investors target next-cycle opportunities.
1. Mantra (OM): Contrarian Accumulation Amid Controversy
Mantra’s OM token plunged 90% in early April amid unfounded “rug pull” rumors, dropping from $6 to $0.64. Yet, on‑chain data from Santiment shows addresses holding 100 million to 1 billion OM have grown their balances from 300 million to 430 million tokens since April 13, indicating aggressive dip‑buying by whales. At current prices, these addresses hold roughly $275 million worth of OM.
This accumulation follows Mantra’s announcement of token burns and a buyback program, which has helped restore whale confidence. Should whales continue to buy at these levels, OM could briefly surpass $1 in the short term. Conversely, if whale trust falters, OM risks new all-time lows as sentiment shifts.
2. Uniswap (UNI): Breathing Room for DeFi’s Leading DEX Token
Uniswap’s governance token UNI, down roughly 60% year‑to‑date and trading near $5, saw a single whale purchase 818 474 UNI (≈$4 million) on April 17. According to Spot On Chain, the same whale has also been accumulating AAVE, underscoring renewed bullishness in key DeFi tokens.
This sizable UNI buyout suggests whales believe current prices understate long‑term value. If buying momentum persists, UNI could rally past $10 in the near future. However, reduced whale activity or profit‑taking might drag UNI to fresh yearly lows.
3. Threshold Network (T): Cross‑Chain Liquidity Draw
Threshold Network’s T token has drawn whale attention amid rising cross‑chain usage. Over the past 24 hours, T’s market cap rose roughly 50%, supported by on‑chain flows. IntoTheBlock reports whale inflows into T jumped from $44 million to $121 million over three days, indicating $20 million in fresh whale buys.
This rally coincided with Apollo Capital’s $227 000 bridge investment into TBTC, the Bitcoin‑backed asset on Threshold Network, signaling institutional interest. As long as whales keep allocating to T, the token’s price could continue its uptrend. A cessation of this buying could trigger a downturn.
4. Macroeconomic Tailwinds and Renewed Bullishness
Beyond on‑chain metrics, broader market sentiment has improved following President Trump’s temporary suspension of proposed tariffs, which alleviated fears of a global trade war and spurred risk‑on positioning. Cryptocurrency markets rallied, liquidity returned, and whale buying re‑emerged. This confluence of political and regulatory clarity often precedes major crypto upswings.
Historically, whales deploy capital early in recovery phases, accumulating undervalued assets before retail inflows. The current pattern—whales targeting select altcoins post‑bottom—mirrors previous cycles in 2018 and 2022, reinforcing the adage: “Follow the whales.”
5. Emerging Whale Picks: SUI, XRP, and ONDO
In addition to OM, UNI, and T, whales are gravitating toward other undervalued projects:
- Sui (SUI): With over $1 billion in TVL and integrations across top DeFi platforms, SUI’s high throughput and low fees have captured whale interest. Recent whale buys suggest anticipation of a technical breakout.
- XRP: As the SEC settlement outlook brightens, whales are stockpiling XRP in expectation of renewed price discovery once litigation clarity arrives.
- Ondo Finance (ONDO): Known for tokenizing real‑world assets, ONDO has seen increasing whale inflows as regulatory frameworks stabilize. Its emphasis on asset‑backed tokens underpins long‑term value.
Conclusion
Crypto whales are strategically accumulating select altcoins after recent market lows, signaling confidence in specific projects and the broader recovery. By targeting OM, UNI, T, and emerging picks like SUI, XRP, and ONDO, whales are positioning ahead of what they anticipate will be the next bull phase. For investors scouting new assets, tracking whale movements—paired with fundamental analysis—can illuminate high‑conviction opportunities in an evolving market landscape.
