Crypto markets experienced a record $19.13 billion in liquidations after President Trump’s renewed tariff threats on China triggered a broad sell-off; Bitcoin plunged from above $121,000 to below $106,000 while major altcoins, including Ethereum and Dogecoin, suffered steep intraday losses.
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Record liquidations: $19.13 billion wiped out in 24 hours
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Bitcoin fell from ~ $121,000 to under $106,000; Ethereum dropped to multi-month lows.
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Major altcoins saw intraday moves up to 40–50%; nearly 1.62 million traders liquidated.
Meta description: Crypto liquidation hits record $19B as Bitcoin crash follows geopolitical tariff threats; read the latest impact analysis and risk steps—COINOTAG coverage.
What triggered the crypto market crash on Friday?
Geopolitical risk from U.S.-China tariff threats directly triggered the crypto market crash. Front-loaded investor fear after President Trump’s statements on new tariffs sparked synchronized stock and crypto selling, accelerating into a record liquidation event that disproportionately hit leveraged long positions.
How severe were the liquidations and which markets were worst affected?
Data compiled from on-chain and market-data aggregators reported an unprecedented 24-hour liquidation total of approximately $19.13 billion, with nearly 1,618,240 traders affected. Most liquidations were long positions. Bitcoin and major altcoins like Ethereum, Dogecoin, Cardano, Story (IP) and Worldcoin recorded the sharpest intraday drops.
Why did leveraged positions drive such a large liquidation total?
Leveraged trading magnifies price moves: when prices drop rapidly, margin calls and automatic liquidations cascade. As leveraged long bets failed, exchanges closed positions, creating further downward pressure and more liquidations in a feedback loop.
What were the price moves for top assets?
Bitcoin moved from above $121,000 to below $106,000 within the day. Ethereum fell from near $4,300 to under $3,600. Dogecoin and Cardano briefly showed intraday dips approaching 40%, and several top-100 tokens recorded 50% drops in short windows.
When did the market begin to recover and what is the near-term outlook?
Partial recoveries were observed after the initial sell-off, with Bitcoin returning to around $112,000 and Ethereum to approximately $3,816 by late reporting. Market participants expect continued volatility over the weekend, and probability-based community sentiment metrics suggested elevated chances of further bearish sessions.
Which data providers and industry references reported the figures?
Market totals and price snapshots were reported by major market-data aggregators and liquidation trackers as plain text: CoinGecko provided price data, and CoinGlass reported the liquidation tally and trader counts. Industry observers compared the event to past black-swan liquidations in 2020 and 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions
How common are liquidation events of this size?
Events on this scale are extremely rare. Previous major liquidations were around $1–2 billion in single-day totals (notably in 2020 and 2022); this $19B event marks a dramatic escalation tied to larger market size and higher leverage usage.
Can exchanges underreport actual liquidation totals?
Yes. Exchange reporting mechanisms can undercount real-time liquidations because of reporting cadence limits; public tallies can therefore be conservative compared to the true market impact.
Key Takeaways
- Record liquidation: Approximately $19.13 billion was liquidated in 24 hours, mostly long positions.
- Broad market impact: Bitcoin and major altcoins saw steep intraday losses; several smaller tokens plunged 40–50% briefly.
- Risk management: Traders should reassess leverage, use protective orders, and verify exchange operational status during extreme events.
Conclusion
This record crypto liquidation event underscores the sensitivity of highly leveraged markets to geopolitical shocks. COINOTAG recommends investors prioritize risk controls, verify exchange conditions, and monitor authoritative market-data aggregators for verified price and liquidation figures. Stay informed and consider de-risking in volatile conditions.
“The largest liquidation event in crypto history. In the past 24 hours, 1,618,240 traders were liquidated, with a total liquidation amount of $19.13 billion. The actual total is likely much higher — Binance only reports one liquidation order per second.” — CoinGlass (posted on X, October 10, 2025)
