Crypto trader James Wynn suffers $16.14M liquidation amid allegations of market manipulation and rising scrutiny of high-leverage strategies.
Author: Chirag Sharma
June 5, 2025 — Pseudonymous crypto trader James Wynn, widely known online as “moonpig,” has suffered a fresh $16.14 million liquidation after Bitcoin’s price fell to $104,720. The loss occurred on the Hyperliquid platform, where Wynn had placed a 40x leveraged long position worth 240 BTC. The liquidation adds to a growing list of high-stakes losses that have made him one of the most polarizing figures in crypto trading.
This latest event follows Wynn’s massive $99 million liquidation on May 30, when Bitcoin briefly dipped below $105,000, wiping out a $1.25 billion long position. Despite that setback, Wynn re-entered the market with another $100 million bet, raising his liquidation threshold to $103,637 by adding $480,000 in margin. His current position includes 770 BTC—valued at approximately $80.5 million—with a liquidation level at $104,035 and an unrealized loss close to $1 million.
James Wynn first rose to fame by turning a $7,000 investment in the Pepe meme coin into $25 million and later reaching an unrealized net worth of $83 million through aggressive leveraged trades. His strategy, often involving 40x leverage, has earned both admiration for its audacity and criticism for its risk.
Observers note that Wynn’s approach represents the volatile nature of crypto trading, where large positions can swing fortunes dramatically based on minor price movements. While his gains were legendary, the recent wave of liquidations has raised red flags across the industry.
In response to the losses, James Wynn has claimed on social platform X that market makers are deliberately targeting his liquidation prices. His allegations have gained traction within the crypto community, where concerns over price manipulation have long been discussed. Influencers and analysts have echoed the sentiment, suggesting that centralized liquidity pools may be used to trigger liquidations of prominent traders.
Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao has weighed in, proposing the development of a decentralized dark pool exchange to prevent such scenarios and protect whales from manipulation. Wynn himself took to X seeking donations to challenge what he described as a “market-making cabal,” although those posts were later deleted.
During a recent HTX livestream with Justin Sun, Wynn criticized the role of meme coin manipulation and advocated for reforms in decentralized trading systems. Despite multiple setbacks, he remains committed to high-leverage trading, describing his journey as driven by both conviction and adrenaline.
The community remains split on Wynn’s legacy—some view him as a cautionary tale about leverage, while others see a relentless trader unafraid to challenge centralized systems. His actions continue to spark intense discussion around the role of whales, the dangers of margin trading, and the structural reforms needed to improve transparency and fairness in crypto markets.
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