TL;DR
- A blockchain investigator claims that certain traders may have profited from early access to confidential government policy decisions.
- A Hyperliquid account allegedly made over $150 million by shorting assets right before Donald Trump announced 100% tariffs on Chinese imports.
- Analysts suspect that individuals connected to senior U.S. officials may have shared advance information, enabling rapid, high-value trades during a sharp crypto market drop.
The incident has sparked new debate over the limits of digital asset regulation and whether current enforcement mechanisms can detect politically sourced leaks. Market observers argue that a case of this scale undermines confidence in institutional actors and the transparency of decisions that directly affect crypto prices.
Allegations Of High-Level Leaks
A blockchain researcher known as Eye outlined activity indicating that private data may have circulated from powerful political circles. The core case involves a trader on Hyperliquid who opened short positions just before the Chinese tariff announcement. The timing and scale of the trades drew attention from analysts tracking on-chain movements.
According to Eye, two individuals have emerged as possible conduits of undisclosed data: Zach Witkoff and Chase Herro. Both allegedly have ties to influential political figures and access to networks with early knowledge of major policy updates. Although no formal charges exist, the names have prompted scrutiny among those monitoring unusual trades preceding official announcements.
Focus On Trader Networks And Timing
Investigators reviewing blockchain records highlighted that the position was opened immediately before the tariff news became public. The profitable move aligned with an immediate drop in Bitcoin, Ether and other major tokens once the announcement surfaced. Traders on social platforms argue that such precision is unlikely to result from guesswork or routine market analysis.
There are references to earlier rumors linking well-timed trades to former BitForex CEO Garrett Jin, though newer claims suggest he may have acted as a front rather than the main strategist. The evolving discussion underscores how complex trading networks can obscure the actual beneficiaries.
Market Reaction And Pro-Crypto Perspective
After the initial plunge, digital assets partially rebounded when Trump signaled a softer stance on tariffs. Bitcoin, Ethereum and Dogecoin saw steep declines before recovering some value. The swift rebound reinforces the view that politically driven volatility can be cushioned through broader adoption and clearer expectations around government-related disclosures.
Pro-crypto voices argue that situations like this highlight the need for transparency over punitive crackdowns. They emphasize that on-chain analysis is an effective tool for detecting irregular patterns and that greater openness in policymaking could reduce opportunities for privileged trading.
