News View Non-AMP

“Gambling With a Timer”: James Wynn Returns to Hyperliquid With a 40x Bitcoin Short

Published by
Zafar Naik

James Wynn is back on Hyperliquid. The trader who turned $4 million into $87 million, then lost nearly all of it, has returned to the platform that made him infamous, this time with $3,911 scraped together from referral rewards and a 40x short on Bitcoin sitting $415 away from liquidation.

Bitcoin is currently trading at $70,697. His liquidation price is $71,112.

A History Worth Knowing

For those unfamiliar with Wynn, the backstory matters. By May 2025, he had built one of the largest publicly visible leveraged positions in crypto history – a $1.25 billion long on Bitcoin using 40x leverage on Hyperliquid. The position unraveled as prices dropped, resulting in losses exceeding $100 million. He ended the month with $23 in his account.

Before deactivating his X account, he changed his bio to a single word: “broke.”

He has since returned to Hyperliquid multiple times, depositing fresh capital and repeating the same pattern of high-leverage trades, each ending in liquidation.

Also Read: Ethereum News: Crypto Whale Loses $74M Longing ETH, Left With Just $8.5K on Hyperliquid

What He Just Did

On-chain analytics platform LookOnChain flagged the latest move on X. Wynn’s wallet – tracked publicly at 0x5078C2fBeA2b2aD61bc840Bc023E35Fce56BeDb6 on Hypurrscan – shows he claimed a referral reward of $1,654 USDC, deposited $3,911 USDC into Hyperliquid, and opened a 40x short on 2.69 BTC worth approximately $190,000. His liquidation price stands at $71,112.48

Gordon, founder of Crypto Crib, responded bluntly: “James Wynn is back after managing to claim $1,654 in referral rewards. Awful trader, no wonder he is BROKE.”

The reaction from the broader community was similarly unsympathetic.

Trader Joe, known as SelfSuccessSaga on X, wrote: “This is exactly how overleverage wrecks people every cycle. 40x short isn’t trading, that’s straight up gambling with a timer. One squeeze and that whole position gets wiped in seconds flat.”

The Numbers Don’t Lie

With Bitcoin at $70,697 at the time of writing and his liquidation price at $71,112, Wynn’s position requires Bitcoin to fall meaningfully to generate any profit. A move of just $415 to the upside wipes out his entire deposit.

The crypto community has watched this pattern play out before. The only question is whether this time ends differently or whether Hyperliquid’s on-chain data logs another liquidation under the wallet address the community has been tracking since May 2025.

Also Read: The Worst Week for Gold in 43 Years Just Made the Strongest Case for Bitcoin

Trust with CoinPedia:

CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.

Investment Disclaimer:

All opinions and insights shared represent the author's own views on current market conditions. Please do your own research before making investment decisions. Neither the writer nor the publication assumes responsibility for your financial choices.

Sponsored and Advertisements:

Sponsored content and affiliate links may appear on our site. Advertisements are marked clearly, and our editorial content remains entirely independent from our ad partners.

Zafar Naik

Zafar is a seasoned crypto and blockchain news writer with four years of experience. Known for accuracy, in-depth analysis, and a clear, engaging style, Zafar actively participates in blockchain communities. Beyond writing, Zafar enjoys trading and exploring the latest trends in the crypto market.

Recent Posts

Is NEAR Protocol’s 60% Rally Just Getting Started?

Another week, another altcoin claiming it's "different this time." But here's the thing about NEAR…

May 23, 2026

BEAT Price Explodes 170% As Audiera Retail Frenzy Builds

BEAT price just went vertical. Again. The token surged from roughly $0.54 to $1.44 in…

May 23, 2026

Is BSB Price Preparing For A Push Toward $2?

BSB price isn’t just pumping anymore but it’s steamrolling through derivatives markets while traders scramble…

May 23, 2026

XRP Price Pullback Deepens as Whale Activity Weakens: Can This Key Level Hold?

XRP price is starting to flash signs of hesitation at a level traders have been…

May 23, 2026

While Bitcoin Drops Below $75,000, Is Ethereum Price Heading Below $2,000?

Ethereum is facing growing bearish pressure as both technical indicators and derivatives data begin signaling…

May 23, 2026

Zcash & Hyperliquid Defy Crypto Market Weakness—Are Bulls Preparing for a Bigger Recovery?

While the broader crypto market, including Bitcoin & Ethereum, remains under pressure, a few altcoins…

May 23, 2026