Crypto Investment Funds Turn Profits in December Despite Broad Market Weakness
Crypto markets struggled all through December, however a small group of institutional traders managed to shut the yr in the black.
New on-chain information from analytics platform Nansen reveals that whereas costs remained beneath strain, a number of main crypto funds generated thousands and thousands in realized good points, solely to pivot towards aggressive promoting because the month progressed.
Elite Funds Secure Top Gains Amid Market Downturn
According to Nansen, market maker Wintermute emerged as essentially the most worthwhile fund in December, recording roughly $3.17 million in realized revenue.
Dragonfly Capital adopted intently, with income unfold throughout a number of wallets totaling $1.9 million, $1.0 million, and $990,000.
IOSG and Longling Capital additionally ranked among the many high performers. Together, these tendencies counsel that income had been concentrated amongst a repeat group of extremely lively institutional merchants somewhat than remoted, one-off wallets.
“Profits are concentrated amongst a small group of repeat funds, not one-off wallets,” Nansen noted, highlighting how constant execution and lively commerce administration separated institutional winners from the broader market downturn.
Arrington, Pantera, and Polychain additionally featured in Nansen’s 30-day dataset from 5 blockchain networks, every with diverse profitability.
December proved difficult for many crypto members as volatility elevated and sentiment weakened into year-end.
Despite this backdrop, Wintermute and Dragonfly Capital capitalized on short-term dislocations and liquidity-driven alternatives.
Their efficiency highlights the benefit of scale, refined buying and selling infrastructure, and multi-chain monitoring throughout periods of market stress.
Dragonfly’s technique stood out for its diversification throughout wallets, permitting the fund to unfold danger whereas capturing upside throughout completely different positions.
Meanwhile, Wintermute’s dominance mirrored its function as a number one liquidity supplier able to profiting from volatility rather than being harmed by it.
IOSG and Longling Capital additionally posted notable good points, inserting them among the many month’s most worthwhile funds. Together, the information paints an image of institutional resilience at a time when retail merchants largely struggled to remain afloat.
Active Profit-Taking Shapes On-Chain Behavior
However, Nansen’s on-chain monitoring reveals that these identical worthwhile funds at the moment are leaning towards promoting somewhat than accumulation.
On December 26, QCP Capital deposited 199.99 ETH, price roughly $595,929, into the Binance exchange, a transfer usually related to getting ready property on the market.
Wintermute has additionally been lively on the promote aspect. While social media commentary has accused the agency of aggressively dumping Bitcoin and Ethereum throughout December volatility, on-chain information confirms that Wintermute lowered publicity after constructing positions earlier in the month.
The exercise aligns with profit-taking and danger administration somewhat than passive holding.
Dragonfly Capital equally lowered its positions in Mantle (MNT). Over seven days in December, the fund deposited 6 million MNT tokens, price roughly $6.95 million, to Bybit.
Despite these gross sales, Dragonfly nonetheless holds 9.15 million MNT tokens, valued at round $10.76 million, suggesting a partial somewhat than full exit.
The distinction between sturdy December income and rising promote strain illustrates a twin institutional technique:
- Exploit volatility when alternatives come up,
- De-risk shortly as circumstances shift.
For skilled funds, year-end promoting may additionally mirror portfolio rebalancing, capital preservation, or preparation for brand new allocations in the early a part of 2026.
While continued promoting from top-performing funds may weigh on short-term costs, it might additionally sign self-discipline somewhat than bearish conviction.
The publish Crypto Investment Funds Turn Profits in December Despite Broad Market Weakness appeared first on BeInCrypto.
