Tag Archives: liquidations

Will Bitcoin hold its US$64,500 line in the sand, or are we heading straight for a test of the US$63,170 support level?

Will Bitcoin hold its US$64,500 line in the sand, or are we heading straight for a test of the US$63,170 support level?

Bitcoin slipped 1.28 per cent to US$65,127.33 over the past 24 hours, tracking a 1.38 per cent decline in total crypto market capitalisation, and the story behind that move tells us far more about positioning fragility than about any fundamental shift in conviction. Two macro forces converged to trigger the selloff.

Stalled Senate negotiations on the CLARITY Act crushed near-term hopes for regulatory clarity, while Brent crude oil surged past US$101 per barrel amid Middle East tensions, reigniting inflation fears that ripple directly into risk-asset pricing. When legislators cannot agree on a framework and energy costs climb at the same time, traders pull back from anything that smells like speculation. Bitcoin, as the most liquid proxy for crypto risk, absorbed the initial hit and dragged the rest of the market along.

But the macro trigger only lit the fuse. The real damage came from the derivatives complex. Bitcoin liquidations jumped 74.57 per cent to US$49.41 million in a single day, with long liquidations accounting for US$41.89 million of that total. That is not a gentle unwind. That is a cascade of overextended bulls getting margin-called into a thin order book, each forced sale pushing price lower and triggering the next liquidation in a vicious feedback loop.

The broader market saw over US$182 million in total liquidations, and the CoinGlass data I reviewed paints a picture of a market clearing excess leverage on both sides rather than reacting to one clean directional catalyst. Aggregated figures showed roughly US$79.58 million in leveraged positions wiped out, with short liquidations near US$39.58 million and long liquidations around US$4.0 million in one reporting window, though cross-exchange inconsistencies mean the true total likely runs higher. The discrepancy itself tells you something important about how fragmented and opaque this market remains.

Ethereum bore the heaviest individual burden, leading all assets with US$41.15 million in 24-hour liquidations and dropping 2.51 per cent to US$1,881.63. The 24-hour heatmap showed Ethereum at US$38.10 million and Bitcoin at US$23.74 million in total liquidation volume, dwarfing every other token by a wide margin.

Here is what strikes me as most telling. Bitcoin logged roughly US$1.20 million in liquidations, split between US$638,500 in longs and US$563,700 in shorts, while Ethereum saw US$1.73 million in liquidations, split between US$873,400 in longs and US$854,200 in shorts.

That near-balance in the two largest assets signals a broad deleveraging phase, not a one-way squeeze. The market is shaking out crowded bets in every direction, which typically accompanies mean-reverting, choppy conditions rather than the start of a sustained trend in either direction.

The exchange-level data reinforces this reading. In the most recent four-hour window, US$9.61 million in liquidations hit the tape. Binance led with US$5.30 million, representing 55.19 per cent of the total, and long liquidations accounted for 63.79 per cent of that total. OKX followed with US$1.23 million and a similar long-heavy split at 63.2 per cent.

Bybit recorded US$1.02 million with an unusually high 84.42 per cent long share, while Aster posted US$539,120 with longs representing 91.78 per cent. Gate also reported a high long share at 85.34 per cent. Hyperliquid stood apart with a nearly even split of 52.99 per cent longs and 47.01 per cent shorts across US$474,640 in liquidations, hinting at genuine two-sided turbulence.

When I see venues like Bybit and Aster showing such extreme long concentration, I read that as crowded directional bets getting punished by intraday whipsaws, not by a structural breakdown in demand.

For Ethereum specifically, the technical picture demands close attention. The 78.6 per cent Fibonacci retracement level at US$1,860 and an ascending trendline from the June low form a critical support confluence. Resistance sits near US$1,955, and short liquidation concentrations cluster around US$1,958 to US$1,965, which could fuel a squeeze if price approaches that zone.

The RSI hovering near 36 suggests oversold conditions that historically precede consolidation or a bounce. Spot ETF inflows of US$72.64 million on July 22 provide an underlying institutional bid, though repeated ecosystem exploits, including a US$7.5 million Verus bridge attack within a broader US$35 million attack wave, dent confidence and keep sentiment cautious among retail participants.

Bitcoin faces its own technical crossroads. Price trades below the 200-day moving average at US$72,687 but above the 50-day at US$62,786. The US$64,500 level represents immediate support, and a break below it risks testing US$63,170 near the 50-day line. A daily close above US$66,800 resistance would signal genuine buyer conviction returning to the table. With a 79 per cent probability of a September Fed rate hike and WTI crude above US$90, the macro backdrop offers little comfort for aggressive risk-taking in the near term.

My read on this market is straightforward. We are watching a leverage-driven shakeout play out within a range-bound regime, not the beginning of a structural bear market. The balanced long and short liquidations in major assets, the rotation into smaller tokens, and the minimal spot movement relative to derivatives carnage all point to position crowding as the culprit. Traders who reduce leverage, widen their liquidation buffers, and avoid tight stops near obvious levels in thin-liquidity altcoins will navigate this stretch far better than those chasing direction on every candle.

The next meaningful signal will come from open interest trends, funding rate normalisation, and whether Senate lawmakers break the CLARITY Act deadlock. Until then, expect choppiness, respect the liquidation heatmap, and treat every sharp move as a positioning event rather than a verdict on the future of crypto.

 

 

Source: https://e27.co/will-bitcoin-hold-its-us64500-line-in-the-sand-or-are-we-heading-straight-for-a-test-of-the-us63170-support-level-20260724/

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

www.anndy.com
j j j

Crypto market bleeds US$44B as US$78M Bitcoin liquidations spark panic

Crypto market bleeds US$44B as US$78M Bitcoin liquidations spark panic

Global financial markets navigated a holiday-shortened week with United States exchanges shuttering their doors on Monday, February 16, 2026, for Presidents’ Day. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq stood silent while traders worldwide turned their attention to international venues where activity unfolded against the backdrop of Lunar New Year celebrations that closed mainland Chinese markets for an entire week. This confluence of calendar events created an unusual trading environment in which sentiment flowed primarily through Asian and European channels, without the usual gravitational pull of American price discovery.

Asian markets absorbed the previous Friday’s benign United States inflation report with measured optimism. The consumer price index had climbed just 0.2 per cent in January, a figure that reinforced expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts later in the year. Japanese equities edged higher as participants digested fourth-quarter 2025 gross domestic product data showing the economy had reversed a deep contraction from the prior period and eked out modest growth.

Australian shares followed suit, with the ASX 200 gaining ground as banking-sector earnings reports delivered unexpected strength. These gains proved fragile when juxtaposed against cryptocurrency markets, which operated independently of traditional asset correlations and plunged 1.85 per cent to a total valuation of US$2.35 trillion over a 24-hour period.

The digital asset selloff originated from an alleged coordinated Bitcoin dump by major exchanges totalling more than US$4.5 billion, according to social media chatter that spread rapidly on February 15. Whether substantiated or not, the narrative ignited a cascade of forced liquidations that erased US$78.23 million in Bitcoin long positions within a single day.

Market psychology shifted abruptly as fear replaced complacency and traders scrambled to reduce leverage across the board. This deleveraging event exposed the fragility inherent in the highly leveraged crypto markets, where perception often moves prices more decisively than fundamentals. Bitcoin itself remained relatively stable around US$68,800 after weekend volatility, but the broader ecosystem suffered disproportionately as capital fled riskier assets.

Ethereum emerged as a critical pressure point in the downturn, falling 5.86 per cent and underperforming the wider market by more than 2x. On-chain analytics revealed a whale transferring 261,020 ETH worth approximately US$820 million to Binance, an action traders interpreted as imminent selling pressure. This technical breakdown below the US$2,000 psychological threshold triggered a domino effect across altcoins, with meme coins bearing the brunt of the punishment.

SHIB, DOGE, and PEPE all dropped six per cent to eight per cent as risk aversion intensified. Ethereum’s role as the bellwether for alternative cryptocurrencies meant its weakness transmitted rapidly throughout the ecosystem, amplifying losses beyond what Bitcoin’s price action alone would suggest.

Currency and commodity markets reflected a more subdued global mood. The United States Dollar Index held steady at 96.82 while the Japanese yen weakened slightly by 0.2 per cent to approximately 152.80 per dollar. Energy markets remained under pressure with Brent crude trading below US$68 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate hovering near US$63.

Gold continued its remarkable ascent, trading near US$5,014 per ounce, a level that speaks to persistent demand for non-yielding safe havens despite improving inflation data. These traditional markets operated with relative calm compared to the turbulence in digital assets, highlighting a growing divergence between crypto and conventional financial instruments during periods of stress.

European markets in the United Kingdom and the Eurozone maintained normal operations with participants awaiting key economic releases later in the week, including industrial production and consumer confidence figures. Without American trading desks active, European volumes remained thin, and directional moves were limited.

This vacuum allowed cryptocurrency markets to dominate financial headlines despite their comparatively small size relative to global equity and bond markets. The episode underscored how digital assets now command disproportionate media attention and retail trader focus even during periods when traditional markets observe holidays.

From my perspective, this selloff represents a necessary correction after months of speculative excess rather than a fundamental breakdown in the crypto thesis. The market had become dangerously overleveraged with traders assuming perpetual upward momentum.

The alleged exchange, whether factual or exaggerated, served as the catalyst that exposed this fragility. What matters now is whether organic buying emerges to absorb the liquidation cascade. Retail participation reportedly increased over the weekend, according to on-chain metrics, but whether this demand proves durable remains uncertain.

The critical technical level to watch sits at US$2.17 trillion, the yearly low that, if breached, could trigger another leg down toward deeper support zones. A sustained hold above the 24-hour pivot point of US$2.36 trillion would suggest buyers have regained control, and consolidation may follow.

The disconnect between stable traditional markets and volatile crypto markets during this holiday period reveals an important evolution. Digital assets increasingly trade on their own internal dynamics rather than macroeconomic cues that drive stocks and bonds.

United States inflation data that buoyed Asian equities did little to support cryptocurrencies, which instead reacted to exchange flows, whale movements, and social media narratives. This decoupling suggests crypto has matured into its own distinct asset class with unique drivers, though it also highlights persistent immaturity in risk management practices among participants.

Looking ahead, the resumption of United States trading on Tuesday, February 17, will provide crucial context. American institutional players re-entering the market could either stabilise crypto prices through dip buying or accelerate declines if they follow the lead of leveraged speculators exiting positions.

The Federal Reserve’s policy trajectory remains generally supportive of risk assets, but crypto markets must first resolve their internal imbalances before external factors regain influence. Until exchange inflows subside and Ethereum reclaims US$2,000, the path of least resistance points downward.

This episode ultimately reinforces a timeless market truth. Leverage amplifies both gains and losses. The 1.85 per cent decline in total crypto market capitalisation masks far more violent price action beneath the surface, where highly leveraged positions faced liquidation at accelerating speeds.

For long-term believers, such corrections serve a cleansing function, removing weak hands and excessive speculation. For short-term traders, they represent existential threats.

The market now stands at an inflection point where sentiment hangs in delicate balance between capitulation and recovery. How it resolves will depend less on macroeconomic data and more on whether spot demand can absorb the remaining sell-side pressure before fear metastasises further.

 

Source: https://e27.co/crypto-market-bleeds-us44b-as-us78m-bitcoin-liquidations-spark-panic-20260216/

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

www.anndy.com
j j j

Crypto crashes 3.7 per cent despite US shutdown deal: US$260M liquidations and whale exodus trigger sell-off

Crypto crashes 3.7 per cent despite US shutdown deal: US$260M liquidations and whale exodus trigger sell-off

The past 24 hours have exposed the fragility beneath recent crypto market gains, delivering a sobering reminder that sentiment can shift abruptly even amid macroeconomic progress. At first glance, the backdrop appears favourable. The US Senate passed a government funding bill on Monday evening, November 10, that would extend operations through January, marking a decisive step toward ending what has become the longest government shutdown in American history.

With a 60 to 40 vote, the chamber cleared the path for the measure to advance to the Republican-controlled House, where Speaker Mike Johnson signalled readiness to pass it swiftly and forward it to President Donald Trump for signature. This legislative breakthrough should, in theory, stabilise risk sentiment and restore confidence in the continuity of US fiscal governance.

The market’s reaction has been conspicuously muted, even negative. While US equities closed mixed on Tuesday, with the Dow surging 1.18 per cent, the S&P 500 edging up just 0.21 per cent, and the Nasdaq slipping 0.25 per cent, the crypto market tumbled by 3.67 per cent over the same 24-hour window. This divergence underscores a growing decoupling between legacy risk assets and digital ones, at least in the short term.

The Nasdaq 100, a traditional proxy for tech-driven risk appetite, now shows a sharply negative 24-hour correlation with crypto at negative 0.77. This marks the most pronounced short-term divergence in months, suggesting that crypto traders are acting on distinct catalysts absent in broader equity markets.

Three interlocking forces drove this sell-off: a cascade of leveraged liquidations, coordinated whale exits in Ethereum, and macro-level caution despite apparent political resolution. The first, and perhaps most mechanically significant, was the unwinding of excessive leverage in futures markets. Over US$260 million in crypto positions were liquidated in just one day, with longs accounting for 84 per cent of Bitcoin and 90 per cent of Ethereum losses.

This follows a 10 per cent weekly increase in open interest, indicating that speculators had aggressively positioned for further upside. When prices dipped, even modestly, margin calls triggered a feedback loop of forced selling, amplifying the initial decline into a full-blown washout.

Compounding this technical pressure was a strategic retreat by institutional and whale participants in the Ethereum ecosystem. Data confirms that two large holders offloaded 178,080 ETH, valued at approximately US$528 million, in what appears to be a coordinated profit-taking manoeuvre. This move coincided with the worst weekly outflow period for Ethereum spot ETFs since their launch. US$796 million fled the nine US-listed funds over the prior week, with every single ETF posting net redemptions.

Such synchronised outflows suggest more than just retail sentiment fatigue. They reflect a loss of institutional conviction at current valuations. With Ethereum’s RSI hovering near 38, a level often deemed oversold, the asset lacks organic buying pressure to absorb such large-scale exits, leaving technical support at US$3,360 as the next critical threshold.

Meanwhile, the macroeconomic data released this week offers a mixed signal. On one hand, the ADP National Employment Report published on November 5 showed that private employers added 42,000 jobs in October, the first monthly gain since July. Annual pay growth held steady at 4.5 per cent, signalling persistent wage pressures. However, a separate weekly ADP metric covering the four weeks ending October 25 paints a bleaker picture.

Private-sector employers shed an average of 11,250 jobs per week during that window. This internal contradiction, monthly gains versus deteriorating weekly trends, fuels uncertainty about labour market resilience heading into year-end. With the Federal Reserve still data-dependent, such ambiguity keeps rate-cut expectations tentative, despite gold rising to US$4,118.58 per ounce on hopes of easing monetary policy.

The US Dollar Index edged down 0.13 per cent to 99.46, while Brent crude rose 1.72 per cent to US$65.16 per barrel, reflecting cautious optimism about global demand. Crypto failed to participate in this risk-on drift. Instead, it exhibited classic risk-off behaviour, not because of direct Fed commentary or CPI surprises, but due to internal market structure vulnerabilities, namely, too much leverage and too little institutional anchoring.

From a strategic standpoint, this correction may be healthy. The 2.99 per cent weekly gain preceding the drop had stretched technical indicators and elevated funding rates into unsustainable territory. The liquidation event serves as a necessary recalibration, clearing weak hands and resetting leverage ratios.

The simultaneous ETF outflows and whale selling in Ethereum suggest deeper concerns about the token’s near-term utility or valuation relative to Bitcoin. While Bitcoin continues to benefit from its digital gold narrative and ETF inflows, Ethereum faces scrutiny over scaling progress, staking yields, and its role in a potential Web4 stack that increasingly integrates AI and decentralised finance in novel ways.

Looking ahead, all eyes turn to two pivotal levels. Bitcoin’s psychological and technical floor sits at US$60,000, and Ethereum’s support rests at US$3,360. A break below either could trigger further algorithmic selling and sentiment deterioration.

Conversely, suppose the government funding bill passes the House and is signed into law, currently estimated at a 96 per cent probability by November 15. In that case, it may restore enough macro calm to reignite risk appetite. Crypto’s fate will ultimately depend less on political theatre and more on whether organic demand can replace speculative leverage and institutional outflows. Until then, volatility remains the only certainty.

 

Source: https://e27.co/crypto-crashes-3-7-per-cent-despite-us-shutdown-deal-us260m-liquidations-and-whale-exodus-trigger-sell-off-20251112/

 

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

www.anndy.com
j j j