Dolphin
Web3 / exchanges trading
A dolphin in cryptocurrency terminology refers to a mid-tier investor or holder who possesses a moderate amount of digital assets—significantly more than retail investors or "shrimp" but substantially less than "whales" who hold enormous positions. Dolphins typically have between tens of thousands to millions of dollars in crypto holdings, giving them considerable market influence while still being vulnerable to significant losses on their portfolio. This classification emerged from community jargon to describe investor tiers by holdings, helping traders understand potential market actors and their likely behavior patterns. Dolphins often serve as important liquidity providers and sentiment influencers, occupying the middle ground between retail enthusiasm and whale market manipulation. Example: An investor holding approximately 50-500 Bitcoin would typically be classified as a dolphin, having enough assets to influence smaller markets but not enough to single-handedly move major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum. Why it matters for crypto trading: Understanding dolphin positions helps traders gauge market sentiment and potential support or resistance levels, as dolphin movements can trigger cascading effects in lower-liquidity altcoins while revealing coordinated buying or selling patterns.
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