Crazy Bitcoin Bet: Trader’s $1 Billion Wager Says BTC Climbs This Week

A high-stakes wager has landed a crypto trader in the headlines. He’s known online as James Wynn, and he’s placed almost $1 billion on Bitcoin rising further. He started piling into a bullish position last week and hasn’t said when he plans to exit.

Bitcoin Bets Hit Billion Dollar Mark

According to Wynn’s posts on X, his position reached about $1 billion on May 21. He’s using $20 million of his own funds and borrowed to make the trade roughly 40 times bigger than his stake. The bet sits on Hyperliquid, a decentralized exchange where traders can open perpetual futures positions. Wynn has already closed part of it, trimming the size to just over $800 million as Bitcoin climbed.

Lookonchain data shows he jumped in around a BTC price of $108,084 and set his “kill switch” just below $103,640—so if Bitcoin dips that far, the whole trade goes bye-bye. As of early Thursday, that bet was sitting on a cool $40 million in unrealized gains.

Source: HyperDash

Trader’s Past Success With Memecoin

Wynn didn’t emerge from nowhere. In 2023, he predicted the Pepe memecoin would hit a $4.2 billion market value. That bet paid off in a big way when Pepe peaked at more than $11 billion in December 2024. A wallet tied to “jwynn.eth” even sent $7 million of Pepe tokens to Binance in May 2024. Based on reports, that move helped him pull in eight-figure gains.

Huge Risk Tied To Price Drop

His trade isn’t without danger. If Bitcoin falls below $100,850, the position could be wiped out. Wynn has said he’d add more money rather than face liquidation. In turbulent markets, minor declines can be the trigger for cascade-like forced liquidations. Any substantial amount of money put into the market begs the question: If prices were to shift just a few percent in either direction, would serious losses be incurred?

Market Logic Favors This Move

Reportedly, the May chances of Bitcoin hitting $115,000 are pegged at 64% or thereabouts, as per Polymarket. Standard Chartered’s Geoff Kendrick also has a bullish view. He predicts Bitcoin could top $120,000 before the end of July. Those forecasts line up with Wynn’s own target of $115,000–$118,000 by the end of next week, and even $118,000–$122,000 shortly after.

Positioning In A Shaky Market

Bitcoin had reached about $111,800 on May 22, 2025, before the slight pullback. Traders pointing at rapid gains also warn of quick drops. On decentralized exchanges, the funding-rate costs might add up. Large orders on Hyperliquid might face slippage, which would move the market against Wynn should he try to unwind too quickly.

Calm Words From A Risk-Taker

“People see this as high-level gambling, and yes it is,” Wynn said. He added that his bets rest on what he calls a solid thesis. Whether he’s right or wrong remains to be seen. For now, his willingness to risk large sums has drawn both admiration and caution from onlookers.

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