ZachXBT, a crypto investigator, has identified William Parker, a British cybercriminal, as the “50X Hyperliquid Whale.” Parker, previously known as Alistair Packover, has a background in online fraud, hacking, and casino theft. He reportedly made around $20 million by using high leverage on decentralized crypto platforms.
Parker gained notoriety for making large leveraged trades, sometimes up to 50 times, on exchanges like Hyperliquid and GMX. ZachXBT traced him through a blockchain transaction that linked to a phone number associated with Parker.
His criminal history includes stealing nearly $1 million from casinos in 2023, leading to his arrest. After serving time, he allegedly continued his illegal activities by running phishing scams to gather funds, which he then used for risky trading strategies.
His success stemmed from using high leverage, which means borrowing money to increase potential profits. For example, a small price change could yield significant returns. Parker once opened a $450 million short position on Bitcoin with 40× leverage, earning nearly $9.5 million in just over a week during a volatile market.
Parker’s large trades not only benefited him but also caused other traders to face forced liquidations, which could lead to price drops and market instability. Despite the risks of high leverage, Parker managed his trades effectively, timing his moves during market fluctuations to secure profits.
This case raises important questions about identity and accountability in the crypto industry. While decentralized platforms like Hyperliquid provide transparency, they also allow anonymity, even for large transactions.
The fact that someone with a criminal background could move significant amounts of money through these systems has sparked concerns about potential regulatory actions and trust in the crypto space.
Overall, William Parker’s story highlights both the opportunities and dangers of decentralized finance, emphasizing the need for ongoing discussions about crypto regulation and ethics.