A holder of a specific crypto (cryptocurrency) that has a very large amount of that currency, and can, as a result, control and affect its supply and price in the market. Whales can potentially manipulate the market for their own interest, using their holdings of huge amounts to control and dominate the market.

Generally, whales are market players, individuals or entities, that own enough amounts of a digital currency or similar assets (crypto assets) to influence market prices to a large extent by trading significant amounts of coins and tokens (non-fungible tokens).

Whales often own more than 10% of a crypto, and can move its price by their market participation- taking a position in a particular asset, making its price rallies or drops, depending on size and direction of such a position. In short, when these players sell or buy an asset, the market simply follows.