π COIN: Whale Alert! $64.8 MILLION Crypto Bet as Bitcoin Tests New Highs!
βΏ CRYPTO WHALE: $64.8M Coinbase flow ahead of Q3 earnings! Calendar spread hints at major Bitcoin/Ethereum developments. Institutions are positioning for something BIG in crypto.
π COIN: Whale Alert! $64.8 MILLION Crypto Bet as Bitcoin Tests New Highs!
π September 8, 2025 | π₯ Extreme Unusual Activity Detected
π― The Quick Take
Someone just unleashed $64.8 MILLION in COIN options - $56M buying deep in-the-money November calls and $8.8M selling September calls! π With COIN trading at $302.20 and already up 17.5% YTD, this massive institutional bet screams confidence that the crypto king is about to rally hard into year-end. Translation: Smart money is positioning for a major move as institutional Bitcoin ETF custody dominance and the $2.9B Deribit acquisition drive Coinbase's transformation! π°
π° The Option Flow Breakdown
π What Just Happened
Check out this monster spread that hit the tape at 1:18 PM:
| Time | Symbol | Side | Type | Strike | Expiration | Premium | Volume | OI | Size | Spot Price | Option Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13:18:38 | COIN20251121C300 | BUY | CALL | $300 | 2025-11-21 | $56M | 16K | 1.4K | 16,280 | $305.58 | $34.60 |
| 13:18:38 | COIN20250919C320 | SELL | CALL | $320 | 2025-09-19 | $8.8M | 17K | 23K | 16,280 | $305.58 | $5.40 |
π€ What This Actually Means
Real talk: This is MASSIVE activity - we're talking $64.8 MILLION in total premium! π
Let me break down what these whales are doing:
The November $300 Call Buy (ULTRA BULLISH):
- Paying $34.60 per contract (deep ITM with $5.58 intrinsic value)
- These calls are already in-the-money by $5.58
- Breakeven: $334.60
- This whale needs COIN above $335 to profit - that's 10% upside from here!
The September $320 Call Sell (Premium Collection):
- Collecting $5.40 per contract
- Only 11 days to expiration!
- Strike is $14.42 out-of-the-money
- Classic income generation while being long-term bullish
The Combined Strategy:
- Net debit: $47.2M ($56M - $8.8M)
- This is a calendar spread on steroids!
- Whale is betting COIN stays below $320 for the next 11 days (collecting that September premium)
- Then expects it to explode above $335 by November!
Translation: This isn't your neighbor Bob trading crypto - this is institutional money making a 9/10 VOLCANIC unusual score bet that COIN is about to have a massive Q4! π
π Technical Setup / Chart Check-Up

Looking at the YTD performance, COIN is showing serious strength:
Key Metrics:
- π YTD Return: +17.49%
- π Current Price: $302.20
- π Start of Year: $257.21
- π΄ Max Drawdown: -63.92% (brutal Q1 dip!)
- πͺ Volatility: 66.25%
- π Recent High: ~$380 area in July
Technical Levels:
- π― Current: $302.20
- π November Strike Target: $335 (10.9% upside)
- π‘οΈ September Strike: $320 (5.9% cushion)
- π July Peak: ~$380 (needs to reclaim)
Translation: COIN recovered from a nasty 64% drawdown and is consolidating after a massive rally. This whale is betting the consolidation is over and we're heading back to the highs! π
πͺ Catalysts
Upcoming Events π₯
π― Q3 2025 Earnings - October 24, 2025
- Q2 crushed it with $6.56B revenue
- EPS of $11.29 blowing past estimates
- Analysts expecting continued momentum
π Deribit Integration Completion - Q4 2025
- $2.9B acquisition closed in August
- $185B in monthly trading volume
- Instant global derivatives leadership
π° USDC Revenue Expansion - Ongoing
- Generated $300M in Q1 2025 alone!
- JPMorgan estimates $55-60B total value potential
- USDC balances surged 39% QoQ to $41.9B
ποΈ Regulatory Clarity - Q4 2025
- SAB 121 rescinded in January 2025
- Pro-crypto legislation advancing in Congress
- Third Circuit Court victory against SEC
Already Happened (But Still Driving Momentum) π
β Bitcoin & Ethereum ETF Custody Dominance
- Custodian for 9 of 11 Bitcoin ETFs
- Custodian for 8 of 9 Ethereum ETFs
- $245.7B in institutional custody assets!
π Base Layer 2 Platform Growth
- $4.32B Total Value Locked (TVL)
- 50M+ monthly transactions
- 1M+ daily active users
- Transaction fees of just $0.01!
π² Price Targets & Probabilities
Based on the massive option flow and upcoming catalysts:
π Bull Case (35% chance)
Target: $380-$420 by year-end
- Deribit integration drives massive derivatives volume
- USDC partnership generates $1B+ annually
- Bitcoin breaks $100K driving crypto mania
- This whale's November calls print massively!
βοΈ Base Case (50% chance)
Target: $320-$350
- Steady growth from institutional custody
- Base platform continues gaining market share
- Q3 earnings meet expectations
- Stock grinds toward November strike
π° Bear Case (15% chance)
Target: $260-$290
- Crypto market correction hits hard
- Regulatory concerns resurface
- Competition from traditional finance intensifies
- Still above year-start price though!
π‘ Trading Ideas
π‘οΈ Conservative Play: "The Income Generator"
- Strategy: Sell $280 puts, 30-45 days out
- Premium: ~$4-5 per contract
- Why it works: Collect premium with 7% downside cushion
- Risk: Assignment if COIN drops below $280
βοΈ Balanced Play: "Mini Whale Calendar"
- Strategy: Buy November $310/$330 call spread
- Cost: ~$7 per spread
- Max profit: $13 per spread (186% return)
- Why it works: Similar thesis to the whale, smaller risk
π Aggressive Play: "Follow the Whale"
- Strategy: Buy November $320 calls
- Cost: ~$15-18 per contract
- Why it works: Cheaper entry than the whale's $300s
- Risk: Need COIN above $335-338 for profit
β οΈ Risk Factors
Let's keep it real - here's what could go wrong:
- Crypto Volatility: Beta of 3.00 means this thing moves FAST both ways!
- Regulatory Wild Cards: Despite progress, crypto regulation still evolving
- Bitcoin Dependency: If BTC tanks, COIN follows
- Competition: Traditional finance entering crypto space
- Already Up 17.5%: Some gains already priced in
π― The Bottom Line
Real talk: Someone just bet $64.8 MILLION that COIN is about to explode higher! This isn't just big money - it's SMART money positioning ahead of massive catalysts! π
Here's your action plan:
If you own COIN:
- Hold tight! This whale sees something big coming
- Consider taking some profits above $320
- Watch that November expiration closely
If you're watching:
- Any dip toward $290-$295 could be a gift
- Q3 earnings on October 24th is your next catalyst
- Deribit integration news flow will heat up
If you're bearish:
- You're fighting against $56 million in call buying
- Wait for clear breakdown below $280
- This whale has deep pockets and conviction
Mark your calendar: September 19th (near-term expiration), October 24th (earnings), and November 21st (big expiration) are going to be WILD! π’
Remember: When someone drops $64.8 million on options with Bitcoin ETF custody dominance, a $2.9B derivatives acquisition, and $300M quarterly USDC revenue, they're not gambling - they're positioning for what they see coming. Given Coinbase's transformation into the crypto infrastructure king, I'm betting this whale knows exactly what they're doing! π°
β οΈ Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. This whale-sized bet is extraordinary and not typical. Always do your own research and never invest more than you can afford to lose. Not financial advice - just one trader sharing what the smart money is doing!