Catenaa, Sunday, May 25, 2025-Max Hamaha of Ukraine claimed victory in the world’s first International Crypto Trading Cup, hosted by WhiteBIT, after a dramatic comeback that culminated in his name lighting up during El Clásico.
The live event, held May 9-10 and streamed globally, marked a milestone for crypto as a spectator sport.
Organized by WhiteBIT, Europe’s top crypto exchange by traffic and FC Barcelona’s crypto partner, the event featured eight elite traders competing in real-time over two days. In total, participants executed 269 trades under pressure, showcasing advanced strategies and high-risk decision-making.
Hamaha, initially at the bottom after day one, surged to the top with a bold long position on Ethereum, earning a realized profit-and-loss (rPNL) of 7,488.84 USDT.
His performance edged out Dutch trader Merlijn The Trader and fellow Ukrainian Eugene Loza (EXCAVO), who secured second and third places respectively.
The competition used WhiteBIT’s internal asset, USDTB, with each trader allocated 50,000 units.
Beyond competition, the event offered educational value.
Traders shared live strategies, including intraday setups and overnight positions. Commentary from market technician Marc Principato emphasized the practical lessons for both novices and professionals.
WhiteBIT’s founder Volodymyr Nosov described ICTC 2025 as the start of a new era in global crypto engagement. Registration is now open for ICTC 2026, aiming to expand the format into a regular global fixture.
