WhalePanda is a well-known pseudonymous figure in the crypto community, recognized for his commentary on Bitcoin trends and opposition to the 2017 SegWit2x fork. Identified as Stefan Jespers in 2018, he began in Bitcoin in 2013 and has since used his marketing background to engage a large online following. ^[1][2]

Career

WhalePanda is known for his insights on Bitcoin and crypto trends and his stance against the 2017 Bitcoin SegWit2x fork. In 2018, he was identified as Stefan Jespers, who entered the Bitcoin space in 2013 with a background in marketing. He co-hosts the Magical Crypto Friends YouTube channel alongside other prominent crypto figures. Throughout 2020, WhalePanda frequently commented on market developments, advising on topics like leverage trading, scams, and asset prices. Although primarily a Bitcoin supporter, he also showed interest in INX, a regulated security token. In early 2021, he shared predictions on Twitter, foreseeing Bitcoin reaching six figures, stablecoins making up 10% of the market cap, and certain altcoins dropping in rank. His 2020 predictions for Bitcoin's price range and top assets by market cap were largely accurate, displaying his familiarity with market movements and trends. ^[3][4]

Interviews

Trading, Bitcoin, and Shitcoins

On ForkLog Live, WhalePanda shared his perspective on Bitcoin, his trading journey, and his experiences within the cryptocurrency community. Beginning with his initial skepticism towards Bitcoin around 2011, WhalePanda eventually entered the crypto space in 2013. Initially experimenting with "shitcoins" (lower-tier cryptocurrencies) to increase his Bitcoin holdings, he later adopted a more cautious approach, focusing on top-tier coins due to liquidity and stability. His background in marketing, particularly SEO and affiliate marketing, helped him build a personal brand on Twitter, where he now maintains a significant following. He discussed his investment logic, choosing projects based on founder credibility and practical viability, with a preference for Bitcoin-centric ventures. WhalePanda also explained the origins of his alias and shared his gradual transition from anonymity to public appearances, citing increased opportunities, such as co-founding the “Magical Crypto Friends” show. He expressed skepticism toward projects like Facebook's Libra and emphasized his view of Bitcoin as a store of value, advocating for its decentralization and censorship resistance. ^[5]

Blockchain & Bitcoin

In a Consensus 2018 interview with Naomi Brockwell TV (NBTV), WhalePanda discussed blockchain and Bitcoin and shared his thoughts on cryptocurrencies. The interview started with him sharing his definition of various terms, like blockchain or nodes, saying: ^[6]

“It's a chain of blocks, a very inefficient database that doesn't scale well and is very expensive. So, the only real use case is actually as a store of value or sound money, because all other use cases would probably use a normal, immutable database. And everyone who participates in the network has a copy of it, so it's very difficult to cheat…A miner is someone who participates in the network, performing complex calculations and, as a reward, receives tokens—in this case, Bitcoin—providing a financial incentive to participate. A node is a way to validate all transactions, ensuring that the transactions you receive and send are legitimate and that no one is trying to cheat you.”

He then explained the value Bitcoin has: ^[6]

“The fact that it's completely immutable and not controlled by any individual makes it a unique form of sound money—a powerful tool to shift power away from nation-states. People see value in this idea because it's nearly impossible to alter, especially with the high hash rate, and all the proof of work—the hashing power, electricity use, and miners' contributions—gives it intrinsic value.”

When asked how he got into crypto, WhalePanda responded: ^[6]

“Actually, a funny story—I first heard about Bitcoin back in 2011 on BlackHatWorld, an online marketing forum. When I read about it, I thought, "Oh, that's a scam," and ignored it for the next two and a half years. Then, it came up in mainstream media during the bubble at the end of 2013, with articles even in Belgian media, so I thought, ‘Okay, maybe it's really not a scam.’ After doing more research, I bought about $50 worth of Bitcoin, though it wasn’t easy to buy at the time. I had to use PayPal, go to a site for Second Life tokens, buy those tokens, and then sell them for Bitcoin—a very complicated process. That’s how I got involved, and I even bought a miner to mine shitcoins. I sold all my graphics cards to get involved, and before that, I was trading stocks and Forex—not successfully, but I was always looking for a way to make extra money on the side. So, I started trading, and I’m still trading now.”

He then commented on the government dealing with blockchain: ^[6]

“I don’t think they should be involved at all, but it seems unavoidable with all these scam coins. They always use the excuse of needing to protect people from volatility, which is fine—there is risk, obviously, with this volatility. But as long as they don’t ban it outright, I don’t have an issue. People also lose money on Forex, stocks, and when companies go bankrupt, so individuals should be responsible for their own financial decisions; if they can’t do that, then they don’t deserve to have any money.”

Toward the end of the interview, he was asked about the future of blockchain and Bitcoin, to which he responded: ^[6]

“I don’t think it will become the main global currency, but I do think it will have a significant place, potentially as a reserve currency, though maybe not the primary one. I expect some countries to start adopting, accepting, and using it more. As for other blockchain projects, I’m not like Jimmy Song, who says it’s all “magic blockchain dust”—some projects will succeed, but I think the majority will fade away. In each category, there will likely be one dominant project: Bitcoin for regular currency, Monero for anonymity, maybe Siacoin or Filecoin for storage. I expect different categories with a leading token or coin for each, and inter-changeability through atomic swaps, like those already in progress between Bitcoin and Litecoin.”

Panels

What Is Blockchain

At Consensus 2018, NBTV talked with the Magical Crypto Friends, which featured a humorous discussion on blockchain technology among hosts WhalePanda, Fluffy Pony, Samson Mow, and Charlie Lee. They recounted the show's origins, which began as a suggestion on social media and evolved into a monthly series where they exchange views on crypto, blockchain, and related tech topics. The hosts touched on the basics of blockchain, describing it as a "chain of blocks" linked cryptographically and emphasized Bitcoin's limited supply and proof of work as key factors in its value. They explored blockchain’s potential future, predicting fewer tokens and focusing on Bitcoin as the true innovation rather than blockchain itself. They concluded that blockchain technology grants financial freedom through censorship-resistant transactions. ^[7]