1inch (1INCH) Plunge

Onchain data reveals that large, vested 1INCH holders distributed approximately 36.36 million tokens (worth ~$5 million) during a sharp sell-off on January 27, contributing to a 15–17% intraday price decline. The tokens, representing about 2.6% of circulating supply and 8% of daily volume, were sold via CoW Protocol in tranches to manage slippage. Historical data indicates the sellers were likely early investors or team members. The sales occurred amid thin liquidity, amplifying downward pressure without a new token unlock. Trading volume surged 370%, and the volume-to-market-cap ratio exceeded 36%, signaling significant liquidity stress.

1inch Team Accused of Dumping Tokens, But On-Chain Data Reveals Complex Trading Patterns Three wallets labeled as "1inch Team" sold 36.36 million 1INCH tokens (worth $5.04 million), causing the token’s price to drop 16.7% to $0.1155. The tokens were initially acquired in late November 2024 at around $0.42 each, meaning the sale resulted in an estimated loss of over $10 million for that batch. However, this selling behavior contradicts the team’s historical trading strategy. Earlier in the year, the 1inch investment fund demonstrated sophisticated market timing—accumulating 1INCH at lows near $0.20, buying more during a July rally that pushed prices to $0.206, and later taking partial profits at around $0.33. Similar strategies were applied to ETH and WBTC, yielding significant gains through disciplined entry and exit points. 1inch officially denied involvement, stating that the wallets in question were not controlled by the team, foundation, or treasury, and that the selling was likely from a third-party holder. The incident highlights the risks of misinterpreting on-chain labels and the impact of large sell-offs in low-liquidity markets. Despite the denial, the event further pressured 1INCH, which has declined significantly from its all-time high of $6.

Recent on-chain data from ARKHAM indicated that three wallets labeled as "1inch Team" sold 36.36 million 1INCH tokens, worth $5.04 million, causing the token's price to drop by 16.7% to around $0.1155. The tokens were initially acquired in late 2024 at approximately $0.42 each, meaning the sale resulted in a loss of over $10 million for the seller. This event sparked criticism and raised questions about whether the 1inch team was intentionally dumping tokens. However, the team’s historical trading behavior shows a pattern of strategic accumulation during market lows and gradual profit-taking during highs—not large-scale selling at a loss. For instance, earlier in the year, the team accumulated 1INCH at around $0.20 and sold portions at higher prices, realizing significant profits on 1INCH, ETH, and BTC positions. 1inch officially denied involvement, clarifying that the wallets in question were not controlled by the team or its multisig treasury and that the sell-off was likely executed by a third-party holder. The team emphasized that it does not influence independent token holders' decisions. Despite the clarification, the sell-off exacerbated the token’s already weak market performance. 1INCH has been in a prolonged downtrend since its all-time high of $6, now trading near $0.11. The incident highlights how on-chain labels can be misleading and how low liquidity magnifies the impact of large sales—often harming retail investors the most.