Cryptocurrency Derivatives Market Witnesses $904 Million Liquidation Event as Bitcoin and Other Major Assets Plummet in Value

The cryptocurrency derivatives market has witnessed a significant liquidation event in the past 24 hours, with massive losses as Bitcoin and other major assets have plummeted in value.

The cryptocurrency derivatives market has witnessed a significant liquidation event in the past 24 hours, with massive losses as Bitcoin and other major assets have plummeted in value. Data from CoinGlass reveals that a substantial amount of positions were forcibly closed due to exceeding their liquidation thresholds, leading to widespread market turmoil.

What Are Liquidations?

A position in the crypto market is considered “liquidated” when a trading platform forcibly closes it, usually due to the holder’s losses surpassing a pre-set threshold. This typically occurs when an investor has used leverage to amplify their positions. Leverage, essentially a loan against the initial investment, can increase potential profits but also amplifies losses, raising the risk of liquidation when market conditions move unfavorably.

In cryptocurrency markets, where price swings are notoriously volatile, such events happen with regularity. When assets experience high volatility, traders face significant risk, especially when using leverage. This can trigger what’s known as a “squeeze,” where large numbers of positions are liquidated in a short period.

The Scale of Liquidations

Over the past 24 hours, crypto markets have seen nearly $904 million in liquidations, with the majority of these coming from long contracts. Long positions are bets that the price of an asset will rise. The crash in Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies during this period led to heavy losses for those holding long positions.

Out of the total liquidated value, approximately $811 million, or around 90%, were long positions. This is a stark reflection of how the recent downturn affected traders who were betting on rising prices. Bitcoin alone accounted for $261 million in liquidations, while Ethereum (ETH) followed with $113 million, and Solana (SOL) had $39 million.

Interestingly, XRP, despite having a larger market cap than Solana, performed worse in terms of liquidations, likely due to a steeper price drawdown for the asset during the sell-off.

The Role of Market Sentiment

The recent sell-off and resulting squeeze can be attributed to several factors, including the overall volatility of the cryptocurrency market and the shifting sentiment among traders. While some of the liquidations were expected given the unpredictable nature of digital assets, market analysts are noting that the funding rate for long positions has not been as aggressive as it was in previous market rallies, such as the November to early December surge.

According to Glassnode’s analysis, the hourly funding rates for the top five cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), XRP, and Dogecoin (DOGE), indicate that traders are not as heavily invested in long positions as they were during earlier bullish periods. This suggests that the current downturn was not preceded by the same level of bullish optimism that typically precedes a market crash.

Bitcoin’s Price Action

At the time of writing, Bitcoin (BTC) is trading around $100,400, marking a decline of over 4% in the past week. The recent crash has affected not only Bitcoin but also other major cryptocurrencies, contributing to the massive liquidation event. With Bitcoin’s price falling further, it remains crucial to monitor the next key levels of support and resistance as traders evaluate their positions.