Key takeaways:
The leading traders in 2025 influence markets not merely through capital but also via narratives.
James Wynn reveals how extreme leverage can result in stunning gains but can also lead to rapid capital loss.
Andrew Kang demonstrates that aligning clear macro or policy changes with strong trades can yield rewards… if executed with proper sizing.
GCR emphasizes that contrarian altcoin investments are most effective when supported by precise timing and an readiness to exit quickly.
Machi Big Brother illustrates that trading in memes and NFTs is characterized by volatility — fortunes can change overnight.
Arthur Hayes shows how macro forecasts can influence sentiment, though even big-picture predictions carry downside risks.
Crypto trading in 2025 appears significantly different from just a year ago. Institutional participants are becoming more aggressive, regulations are beginning to stabilize, and liquidity is altering market dynamics.
As capital flows increase, focus has shifted from merely “what” is traded to “who” is impacting the markets.
Social media figures, anonymous whales, and experienced macro investors now wield substantial influence. Their choices can initiate narratives, build momentum, and guide price discovery far beyond the typical retail speculation.
This article highlights five traders to watch in 2025. Some operate on high-risk speculation, while others think strategically, but all leave their mark on the market.
1) James Wynn: High-stakes leverage and big lessons
James Wynn (also known as JamesWynnReal) is among the most monitored traders of 2025 — not only for his eye-catching victories but also for his notable failures.
His approach is unmistakable: high leverage (often reaching up to 40x), significant movements in memecoins, and a knack for chasing volatility in Bitcoin (BTC) and other sensitive macro assets.
In May 2025, Wynn reportedly executed a 40x-leveraged long position on Bitcoin valued between $1.1 billion and $1.25 billion. When BTC dipped, this position (along with several others) was liquidated, incurring losses in the tens of millions.
This was not his first high-stake scenario. Early on, Wynn transformed a modest investment in Pepe (PEPE) into millions. He then escalated to aggressive leveraged bets — many leading to liquidation — particularly on memecoins like PEPE.
The pattern is familiar: impressive gains followed by significant losses.
For observers, Wynn epitomizes both aspects of speculative trading: the potential for bold positioning to attract attention, as well as the rapid unraveling of capital.
2) Andrew Kang: Thesis-driven infrastructure and macro bets
Andrew Kang, co-founder of Mechanism Capital, is noteworthy for his thesis-driven approach.
Mechanism has supported projects across decentralized finance (DeFi), infrastructure, and gaming, but Kang is particularly recognized for his transparent publication of narrative theses which he transitions into liquid trades.
In April 2025, one of his most notable moves occurred on Hyperliquid’s perpetuals exchange. Through a Mechanism-associated wallet (0xBb87), Kang initiated a 40x leveraged Bitcoin long worth approximately $100 million before swiftly increasing the position to about $200 million.
His timing aligned with shifts in US tariff policy and a social media post from US President Donald Trump stating, “This is a great time to buy,” followed by a temporary 90-day moratorium on prior tariffs.
Kang later reduced part of the position to secure profits, while allowing the rest to be unwound gradually through time-weighted average price (TWAP) orders.
His guiding strategy appears to merge macro or policy catalysts with conviction-driven leveraged trades, often making public narrative theses that aid in shaping market perception.
Did you know? Before transitioning to venture capital and trading, Kang earned about $5,000 via arbitrage trading Dogecoin (DOGE) on Reddit and over-the-counter markets during his college years.
3) GCR (Gigantic Rebirth): Contrarian conviction in altcoins and narratives
GCR (an abbreviation for Gigantic Rebirth) is a semi-anonymous trader prized for his audacious, high-conviction trades. He first gained attention for successfully shorting LUNA (including a $10 million bet with Do Kwon) prior to its collapse and has since been recognized for blending contrarian altcoin plays with sharp insights on macro shifts.
In 2025, GCR was active in offloading substantial altcoin holdings, including the disposal of about 174.9 million CULT tokens within hours, exchanging them for Ether (ETH) and Tether’s USDt (USDT) for around $557,000.
Concurrently, he made optimistic predictions, such as projecting a $10,000 price target for ETH while discussing tokens like Shiba Inu (SHIB) and INTL, connecting their potential to broader issues like inflation and network activity.
In mid-2025, controversy arose when screenshots and user allegations indicated that GCR might have received early insights on selections from Teeka Tiwari’s Palm Beach Confidential before public distribution. While unverified, the accusations highlight the scrutiny surrounding his activities.
What defines GCR is a mix of audacious altcoin exposure, quick exits when necessary, and public narrative strategies that frequently challenge consensus.
Did you know? GCR successfully shorted LUNA near $90 before its downfall, earning substantial profits during the ensuing crash.
4) Machi Big Brother (Jeffrey Huang): High-leverage meme and NFT swings
Jeffrey Huang, recognized as Machi Big Brother, is a Taiwanese-American music and entertainment entrepreneur turned crypto figure. He founded projects such as Mithril and is affiliated with Cream Finance. Recently, he has engaged in on-chain trading, non-fungible token (NFT) speculation, and bold memecoin ventures.
In 2025, Machi has sustained that reputation through significant leveraged trades. For instance, he initiated a 25x Ether long valued at around $54 million. Simultaneously, he entered Hyperliquid (HYPE) with a 5x leveraged position.
At one time, his portfolio reportedly exhibited over $30 million in unrealized gains across ETH, HYPE, and Pump.fun’s PUMP. However, he is believed to have incurred a $4.3-million net loss solely on PUMP.
His trading methodology is characterized by dramatic swings: he takes aggressive leveraged positions, occasionally pivots (long to short) on speculative tokens, and is known for sharp reversals.
For observers, Machi illustrates the volatility present in the meme- and NFT-driven aspects of crypto — where fortunes can shift dramatically in hours.
5) Arthur Hayes: Macro forecaster and cycle strategist
Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX and chief investment officer of Maelstrom, is recognized as a key macro voice in crypto. His writings and interviews often weave in elements of central bank policies, liquidity dynamics, and the supply mechanics of Bitcoin and Ether — frequently shaping market perceptions of macro-crypto interactions.
In 2025, Hayes has made a series of bold predictions. On the negative side, he cautioned about a potential decline that could pull Bitcoin back to the $70,000-$75,000 region during tightening cycles.
However, his long-term forecast is significantly optimistic: he anticipates that Bitcoin may reach $200,000 by year’s end, driven by US Treasury bond repurchases and a surge of global liquidity.
On Ether, Hayes has pointed out supply dynamics (staking, fee burns, and layer-2 activities) as supportive elements, and he recently reestablished a long ETH position based on those insights.
Simultaneously, he has not shied away from negative scenarios, citing inflation, tariffs, and weak labor statistics as potential triggers for declines toward $100,000.
Hayes offers followers a dual benefit: he is part macro analyst, part trader with personal stakes in the market.
His predictions do not always materialize, but they frequently assist in defining how the market perceives risks and opportunities.
Did you know? Hayes lost some early Bitcoin in the Mt. Gox hack in 2013, similar to many early adopters.
“There is a time to go long, a time to go short and a time to go fishing”
James Wynn, Andrew Kang, GCR, Machi Big Brother, and Arthur Hayes are significant influencers shaping crypto trading in 2025.
From high-leverage strategies to macro thesis plays, contrarian altcoin investments and institutional positions, their tactics highlight the multiple forces driving this market simultaneously.
With institutional funding increasing, yield strategies evolving, and regulators tightening oversight, the margin for error has diminished. These traders can act as early indicators of shifting market sentiment, but their actions can be noisy and expensive to replicate without context.
The true value resides in observation: analyzing how they construct narratives, size positions, and navigate risks.
Learn from them, but refrain from blindly replicating trades. Maintain your own risk assessment, monitor liquidity and policy changes closely, and approach the market as a dynamic system where even seasoned players can err.
This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research before making decisions.
