When Bitcoin tumbled below the much-watched $100,000 mark in early November 2025, it sent shockwaves through the crypto world like a roller coaster suddenly dropping without warning. The digital currency plummeted over 20% from its October peak of $126,000, crashing to below $99,000 and marking its lowest point since late June.
This dramatic fall triggered something remarkable yet concerning: approximately $2.028 billion in liquidations within just 24 hours. More than 472,000 traders found themselves caught in this digital tsunami, with most of the damage hitting those betting on Bitcoin’s continued rise. Long position liquidations alone accounted for $1.628 billion, while short positions faced $399 million in losses.
The carnage spread beyond Bitcoin like ripples in a pond. Ethereum saw $657 million liquidated, Bitcoin $614 million, and Solana $124 million. These numbers rank among the largest liquidation events in crypto history, showing just how many traders were using borrowed money to amplify their bets.
Behind this chaos lay several factors working together like storm clouds gathering. The Federal Reserve surprised markets with a more aggressive stance on interest rates, crushing hopes for easier monetary policy. This shift tightened liquidity conditions and pushed investors away from risky assets like cryptocurrencies. Traders utilizing smart order routing found their automated systems struggling to manage the unprecedented volatility and massive order flows during the market crash.
The Crypto Fear and Greed Index reflected this mood, showing “Extreme Fear” as panic selling took hold. What made this situation particularly dangerous was how Wall Street may have underestimated the speed of crypto’s unraveling. Many firms failed to recognize how quickly leveraged positions could collapse during sharp downturns. The correlation between Bitcoin and traditional risk assets like the Nasdaq also caught some off guard.
Critical support levels now hover between $95,000 and $100,000. If Bitcoin breaks below this range, analysts warn it could tumble toward $80,000. The broader crypto market remains shaky as investors grapple with macroeconomic uncertainties and the Federal Reserve’s ongoing quantitative tightening.
Adding to the market’s woes, whale liquidations of $39.37 million intensified the selling pressure as large investors saw their positions completely wiped out during the downturn.
Despite some attempted recoveries, persistent selling pressure continues weighing on prices, leaving traders wondering when this digital storm might finally pass.
