An onchain investigation has unearthed intriguing connections between the enigmatic Hyperliquid whale, controller of over 100,000 BTC, and Garrett Jin, the former CEO of BitForex. This revelation adds a new layer to the ongoing narrative surrounding crypto market dynamics.
The investigation, led by crypto researcher Eye, uncovered the link in a Saturday post on X. The whale’s main wallet, known as ereignis.eth, was found to be connected to another Ethereum Name Service (ENS) name, garrettjin.eth. This link traces directly to Jin’s verified X (Twitter) account, @GarrettBullish.
The Mysterious Hyperliquid Whale
Eye’s findings suggest that the ENS name ereignis.eth (which means “event” in German) is a crucial identifier for the operations on Hyperliquid/Hyperunit. This wallet’s activities align closely with Jin’s known business endeavors, including transfers to staking contracts and addresses backed by exchanges he once associated with, such as Huobi (HTX).
Moreover, the whale’s wallet was involved in transactions linked to BitForex addresses and Binance deposits. These funds were reportedly used to execute large Bitcoin trades, including a staggering $735 million BTC short.
BitForex and Its Fraught History
Garrett Jin’s tenure at BitForex, from 2017 to 2020, was marked by controversy. The exchange faced accusations of falsifying trading volumes and was flagged by Japan’s Financial Services Agency for unregistered operations. In 2024, BitForex suffered a $57 million loss from its hot wallets, leading to withdraw freezes and its eventual shutdown following team detentions in China. Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission also issued a warning for potential fraud, with users reporting millions in unrecovered funds.
After BitForex’s collapse, Jin launched several ventures, including WaveLabs VC, TanglePay, IotaBee, and GroupFi. However, many of these projects have since stalled. In 2024, he introduced XHash.com, a platform for institutional Ethereum staking, which investigators claim may have facilitated questionable fund activities. Subsequently, Jin removed XHash from his social media profiles, though it remains visible on his Telegram account.
Skepticism Surrounding the Allegations
Despite the investigation’s findings, not all are convinced. Crypto analyst Quinten François expressed doubts about the alleged connections between the Hyperliquid whale and Jin. He questioned the simplicity of the evidence, stating, “Why would you have an .eth name leading to your X handle in a wallet that directly connects to market manipulation wallets and other crime-related wallets?” François suggests that the setup might be “too simple to be true.”
This developing story highlights the complexities and potential risks within the cryptocurrency market, especially concerning large-scale operations and regulatory scrutiny.
