If I'd bought Bitcoin at $1 and it went to $5, I would have sold. If I'd bought at $10 and it went to $20, I would have sold. If I'd bought at $100 and it went to $150, I would have sold. The amount of discipline it would have taken to hold through all the rises and make an obscene amount of money is well beyond my risk profile.
This is why I'm not convinced "crypto whales" exist. If they really hold that much with no strings, why haven't they sold and retired to live a life of luxury by now? Do they plan to hold out to the grave? What good will that do them?
I can believe some people might have substantial holdings but I bet they also have substantial liabilities such that their net holdings disqualify them as "whales".
But I get what you're saying.