In what is being called one of the biggest personal blow-ups on Hyperliquid, trader James Wynn has lost nearly all of the $1.28 million he deposited in July. The loss, first reported by Arkham, shows Wynn’s $2.99M kPEPE position was liquidated this week, leaving him with just $32,930, a devastating 97.4% loss in under a month.
Who Is James Wynn?
James Wynn is a high-leverage trader who rose to fame in early 2024 after turning a PEPE trade of $7,600 into a $25 million profit, a move that catapulted him into the spotlight as the ultimate meme coin whale.
In late May 2025, Wynn experienced nearly $100 million in liquidations after Bitcoin (BTC) dropped below $105,000. That single crash erased a staggering fortune. But even after the loss, Wynn held firm, continuing to trade large positions with hefty unrealized losses.
Why Did He Lose It All?
The liquidation appears to stem from over-leveraging on kPEPE, like many memecoins, is subject to wild price swings, a risky bet even for seasoned traders. Wynn’s large position size and possible lack of risk management ultimately triggered the liquidation protocol on Hyperliquid.
Wynn’s $2.99M kPEPE long was part of another aggressive high-leverage play, one that didn’t pay off. When the price moved against him, the position was force-liquidated, effectively wiping his July deposits on Hyperliquid. Unlike traditional trading, crypto leverage can go from thrilling to brutal in hours.
What’s Next?
Wynn has yet to comment publicly on the loss. But given his past behavior, he might not be done yet. For other PEPE enthusiasts, consider scaling into positions gradually rather than going all-in on longs, especially when PEPE approaches resistance at $0.000009. Always use position sizing that limits losses to 1-2% per trade, and stay informed via reliable analytics to navigate the unpredictable world of meme coin investments.
Wynn’s story captures the psychological grip of crypto trading, where it’s hard to tell genius from recklessness, and the line between meme coin magic and meltdown is paper-thin. And for the rest of us, it’s another cautionary tale.
Also Read: Shiba Inu Sees 16,000% Burn Rate Spike After Base Integration