The cryptocurrency market is still under pressure after the latest FOMC meeting. The U.S. central bank delivered its third rate cut of 25 bps this year, but the accompanying tone was more cautious than expected. Inflation risks and signals of weaker growth have kept prices weak across most major assets. Despite this decline, crypto whales are discreetly building on their positions.

Their purchases have focused on three tokens that show early signs of upward movement or potential breakouts.

Aster (ASTER)

Astars price has fallen nearly 4% in the last 24 hours and has increased its monthly loss to about 14%. Nevertheless, the whales are doing the opposite.

Their holdings increased by 7.35% in the last 24 hours, where they bought about 4.59 million ASTAR worth around $4.22 million at today's price. The interesting thing is that ASTAR is one of the rare coins that received whale purchases both before and after the FOMC decision.

This purchase stands out because the chart shows a technical setup that may explain why the whales entered.

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Between November 3 and December 11, the ASTAR price formed a higher low, while the RSI made a lower low. RSI, or Relative Strength Index, measures the strength of buying and selling. When the price rises, but the RSI falls, a hidden bullish divergence forms. This usually signals that selling pressure is starting to wane, even though the chart still looks weak on the surface.

Astar showed the same pattern between November 3 and December 1. This divergence led to an increase of nearly 22%. The current setup is similar, and whales may be positioning for the same type of increase.

For the uptrend to continue, Astar must achieve a clear daily close above $1.08 – the level where the previous uptrend stopped. If the price breaks this line, it may aim for $1.25 and $1.40, which correspond to the next significant resistances.

If the structure weakens instead, the downside is also clear. A daily close below $0.88 will break the ascending structure and weaken the whales' conviction. Below this level, ASTAR may test $0.81 or lower.

Maple Finance (SYRUP)

Maple Finance (SYRUP) is still down about 2.2% in the last 24 hours and nearly 40% in the last month. Despite this weakness, crypto whales continue to build their positions. Regular whale wallets increased their holdings by 3.86% in the last 24 hours, while mega-whales increased theirs by 4.9% and now hold a total of 1.1 billion SYRUP.

This increase of 4.9% means that mega-whales bought about 51.4 million SYRUP, worth around $14.4 million at today's price. This fresh accumulation came right after the slightly hawkish FOMC tone, making the purchases even more interesting.

Whales seem to trust that the support level at $0.23 holds. SYRUP has tested this level multiple times since early December. It has not been broken even once, and that may be why the whales traded. The token has moved in a wide range between $0.23 and $0.31, with the last test of the support level on December 4.

Momentum provides a short-term lift. Between December 9 and December 11, the price made a lower low, while the RSI made a higher low. RSI, or Relative Strength Index, measures buying and selling strength. When the price falls, but the RSI rises, a bullish divergence forms. On lower timeframes, this usually points to an uptrend even in a broader downtrend.

If an uptrend forms, the first target is $0.31 – the ceiling that has rejected all movements since December 6. A clear break above $0.31 opens up further to $0.39 and $0.48.

But if the SYRUP price loses $0.23, the whales' conviction weakens. Such a break opens up further downside and restarts the entire setup.

Pudgy Penguins (PENGU)

Pudgy Penguins has fallen nearly 10% in the last 24 hours, but crypto whales continue to buy through the decline. Whale wallets increased their holdings by 5.25%, bringing their total to 1.18 billion PENGU. This increase means that whales have added about 58.9 million PENGU.

The top 100 addresses, or mega-whales, also showed steady accumulation. Their holdings increased by 2.85% in the last 24 hours, and the total stash was lifted to 76.95 billion PENGU. This corresponds to an increase of about 2.13 billion tokens, worth nearly $21.3 million at today's rate. For a token that has just fallen double digits, such coordinated whale and mega-whale buying activity is rare.

The PENGU price chart explains why whales continue to load up. Pudgy Penguins is forming an inverted head-and-shoulders pattern on the daily chart. This is a bullish reversal setup that often occurs when a downtrend loses momentum. The neckline is near $0.014, and since it slopes upward, it signals an improved buyer structure even before a breakout forms.

Whales may be betting on this breakout. If PENGU closes above $0.014, the height of the pattern suggests a movement of about 35%, which means the upside target is near $0.019. This is likely why large wallets are entering despite the price's weakness.

But the pattern has clear invalidation levels. If Pudgy Penguins falls below $0.010, the setup weakens. A drop below $0.009 completely invalidates the pattern and removes the bullish forecast. Currently, as long as PENGU stays above $0.010, the inverted head-and-shoulders pattern remains intact, and crypto whales seem prepared for a potential breakout.