$2.5 Billion Liquidated: Crypto Market Cursed with Following Declines but Not Rallies
A massive crypto market crash on January 31 led to $2.522 billion in liquidations, with Bitcoin falling below $78,000 (a 7.6% drop) and Ethereum plunging over 12% to under $2,400, erasing gains from mid-2025. Solana also dropped sharply, falling below $100.
The sell-off was triggered by broader financial turmoil, beginning with escalating geopolitical tensions and accelerated by a severe crash in precious metals. Gold and silver saw dramatic drops—15.7% and 37%, respectively—after reports suggested former Fed official Kevin Warsh, perceived as hawkish, might be nominated as the next Fed chair. This sparked a repricing of expectations around U.S. monetary policy and a stronger dollar.
The crypto market, positioned at the bottom of the risk asset hierarchy, suffered disproportionately—falling more sharply than traditional markets during downturns without matching their rallies. Major players were heavily impacted: trader Garrett Bullish saw over $700 million liquidated in a single position on Hyperliquid, while institutional entity Trend Research faces nearly $500 million in unrealized losses on its Ethereum holdings.
Despite Bitcoin’s price relative to gold hitting historic lows—a signal some interpret as a potential long-term buying opportunity—the event underscores crypto’s current role as a high-risk asset vulnerable to macro shocks, lacking the stable store-of-value status of traditional safe havens. The market is now questioning what will sustain long-term holding through periods of deleveraging and uncertainty.
Odaily星球日报02/01 01:01
