Introducing WhiteBIT’s Pioneering International Crypto Trading Cup
In an unprecedented event, WhiteBIT, renowned as Europe’s largest cryptocurrency exchange in terms of traffic, successfully launched the inaugural International Crypto Trading Cup (ICTC) 2025. This event culminated in the victory of Ukrainian contender Max Hamaha, who clinched the title after a remarkable turnaround.
WhiteBIT’s Debut International Crypto Trading Cup
Recently, the spotlight shone on Max Hamaha as he emerged victorious in the ICTC 2025, hosted by WhiteBIT. This globally streamed, high-stakes tournament unfolded over two days, May 9 and 10, featuring eight elite crypto traders from around the globe competing live on stage. Each participant received 50,000 USDTB, WhiteBIT’s proprietary futures trading asset, to showcase their prowess over twelve hours of intense trading, spread across two days. Throughout the competition, a total of 269 trades were executed, providing valuable insights into sophisticated trading strategies, risk management, and decision-making under pressure.
Advertisement Banner
Max Hamaha, initially trailing at the bottom of the rankings, made an impressive comeback on the second day to become the first-ever ICTC Champion. His triumph was marked by a realized Profit and Loss (rPNL) of 7,488.84 USDT, achieved through a high-confidence long position in Ethereum (ETH).
Following closely, Dutch contender Merlijn The Trader secured the second spot with an rPNL of 6,745.96 USDT, while Eugene Loza, also from Ukraine and known as EXCAVO, claimed third place with an rPNL of 4,098.90 USDT. Hamaha distinguished himself in the Total Trades category, ranking second with 47 transactions, outpaced only by Muslim Abdullayev from Kazakhstan, known as Mus_Money, who executed 49 trades.
Malik Roth Klindt Jensen, known as Coinvo, marked a notable achievement with the tournament’s largest single gain of 12,249 USDT on an ETH-PERP position. Conversely, the most substantial single loss also occurred on the ETH-PERP pair, amounting to 10,725 USDT, underscoring the inherent high-risk nature of crypto trading.
As the champion of this crypto competition, Hamaha’s name lit up the LED boards during El Clásico, a monumental football clash between Spanish giants Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, marking an unprecedented moment where a trading competition winner was celebrated during one of the most-watched sporting events globally. This event signified a major milestone in elevating crypto trading to a competitive and spectator-worthy status, akin to traditional esports.
The Rise of Competitive Crypto Trading
Reflecting on his experience, Hamaha expressed, “Trading live on stage was an exhilarating experience—far more intense and exciting than trading at home. Adjusting my usual strategy to fit the tournament rules was necessary, but I maintained a focus on active intraday trading with high leverage. Confidence was key, although the final moments were nerve-racking as competitors took bold risks.”
He further added, “WhiteBIT is pioneering a new trend—competitive trading could soon achieve mainstream popularity like esports. In the coming years, I foresee crypto trading tournaments competing with major esports events like Dota 2.”
Beyond the main event, ICTC 2025 provided a glimpse into professional traders’ methodologies, with over 3,000 participants sharing live screen setups and decision-making processes.
Marc Principato, a tournament host and market technician, emphasized the educational value of the event, which showcased diverse trading styles. Standout performances included Mauro Ciami’s assertive “go big or go home” strategy on day one, and the calculated high-risk overnight positions of Merlin and Excavo, which proved highly rewarding on day two.
Principato highlighted that this unique event offered “invaluable” lessons for both aspiring and seasoned traders, equipping them with practical knowledge to enhance their trading skills. Meanwhile, Volodymyr Nosov, the founder and President of WhiteBIT Group, remarked:
“This tournament marks the beginning of a new era. It’s more than just trading—it’s about building a community, sharing insights, and accelerating the global adoption of blockchain technology. We are laying the groundwork for the future. ICTC 2025 was our initial step to understand what resonates with traders and audiences, and how we can evolve. Our ambition is to transform this into a recurring, global event—growing in scale and impact with each edition.”
Consequently, the crypto exchange is gearing up for the next chapter, with registration now open for ICTC 2026, inviting both novice and experienced traders worldwide to compete, connect, and make history.
Editorial Integrity at Bitcoinist
At Bitcoinist, our editorial ethos is rooted in delivering meticulously researched, accurate, and impartial content. We adhere to stringent sourcing standards, with each article undergoing thorough review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This rigorous process ensures that our content maintains integrity, relevance, and value for our readers.
