Bitcoin Whale Selling Pressures Price Below $100K, $2B Liquidations Signal Possible $80K Dip

• Whale Selling Pressure: Long-time Bitcoin holders have sold approximately 400,000 BTC, pushing prices down from recent highs.

• Recent Liquidations: Around $2 billion in crypto positions were liquidated in the last 24 hours amid heightened market volatility.

• Downside Bets: Traders are increasingly using put options to wager on Bitcoin falling to $80,000, reflecting bearish outlook backed by data from market analytics platforms.

Discover why Bitcoin is dropping below $100K in 2025: Whale sell-offs, $2B liquidations, and bets on $80K lows explained. Stay informed on crypto trends—read more for key insights and market analysis.

What is causing the Bitcoin price drop below $100,000?

Bitcoin price drop below $100,000 stems primarily from sustained selling by large-scale investors, or whales, who have offloaded roughly 400,000 BTC valued at about $45 billion over the past month. This activity in the spot market, rather than leveraged futures, has eroded recent gains following a volatile period in October. As a result, the cryptocurrency has declined more than 20% from its October record highs, trading around $102,031 after a 7.4% intraday drop.

How are liquidations impacting the current Bitcoin market?

Liquidations have added to the downward pressure on Bitcoin, with data from CoinGlass indicating approximately $2 billion in crypto positions wiped out over the past 24 hours. This figure, while significant, pales in comparison to the $19 billion liquidated during the October 10 market crash, which followed announcements of U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports and stricter software export controls. Those events triggered widespread panic in leveraged trades, but the current wave is more contained, focusing on spot holdings.

Traders’ sentiment has shifted bearish, as evidenced by increased activity in put options targeting $80,000, according to market observations from K33 Research. More than 319,000 previously dormant Bitcoins—coins inactive for six to twelve months—have been reactivated recently, pointing to profit-taking after the rally from mid-July. This reactivation underscores a broader trend of long-term holders capitalizing on gains amid macroeconomic uncertainties.

Expert analysis from Bloomberg highlights weakening conviction among institutional players. Markus Thielen, head of 10x Research, explains that “mega whales” with holdings between 1,000 and 10,000 BTC started significant offloading earlier this year, a pattern that accelerated post-October. Such sales mirror dynamics from the 2021-2022 bear market, where over one million BTC were sold, contributing to a 75-78% price plunge from $68,000-$69,000 to $15,000-$16,000, and a market cap drop from over $3 trillion to under $850 billion.

Thielen cautions that while a full-scale crash is unlikely, Bitcoin prices could remain range-bound or decline further into spring 2025, potentially reaching $85,000. This slow unwind contrasts with past leveraged-driven slumps, emphasizing the role of fundamental supply dynamics in the current Bitcoin price drop.

About $2B in crypto positions were liquidated in 24 hours, while traders are increasingly betting on Bitcoin dropping toward $80K.

Bitcoin is reeling again, this time under the weight of massive selling by long-time holders. Large investors, often called whales, have dumped around 400,000 Bitcoin, worth roughly $45 billion, over the past month. The steady sell-off has pushed the world’s biggest cryptocurrency below the $100,000 mark for the first time since June.

The latest decline marks a shift from last month’s volatility, which was triggered by forced liquidations in leveraged futures trades. This time, it’s the spot market, where investors actually hold and sell Bitcoin, driving prices lower.

Market moves and liquidations.

Bitcoin dropped as much as 7.4%, falling below the $100,000 mark, according to CoinMarketCap. It has since slightly recovered to around $102,031, but the token still remains down more than 20% from its record highs reached in October.

Data from CoinGlass shows that about $2 billion worth of crypto positions were liquidated in the past 24 hours. That’s modest compared with the $19 billion wiped out during the October 10 crash, when markets plunged after the U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 100% tariff on Chinese imports and tighter export controls on software.

Since then, futures activity has stayed muted, and traders are increasingly placing downside bets through put options targeting $80,000.

According to K33 Research, more than 319,000 previously dormant Bitcoins have recently been reactivated, mostly coins held for six to twelve months, suggesting that many holders are locking in profits after a strong rally since mid-July.

What history tells us

Analysts cited by Bloomberg say the bigger concern now is weakening conviction among long-time investors. Markus Thielen, head of 10x Research, noted that “mega whales,” wallets holding between 1,000 and 10,000 Bitcoin, began offloading large volumes earlier this year. That trend has intensified since the October crash, as more big holders continue to unload their positions.

Thielen believes the wave of selling could drag on for months, similar to the 2021–2022 bear market, when big investors offloaded over one million Bitcoin across the year. 

During that period, Bitcoin fell sharply from its all-time high of around $68,000–$69,000 in November 2021 to roughly $15,000–$16,000 by late 2022, a drop of about 75%–78%. The crypto market’s total capitalization also fell from over $3 trillion to under $850 billion.

He doesn’t expect another major crash, but says prices may remain sluggish or slip further into next spring, possibly falling to around $85,000.

In short, Bitcoin’s latest slump isn’t being fueled by leveraged panic. It’s a slow, heavy unwind led by the biggest players cashing out, leaving the market struggling to find new buyers.

Also Read: Bitcoin Slides Down to $104K, Wipes Out $1.36B in Liquidations

Frequently Asked Questions

What triggered the recent $2 billion in Bitcoin liquidations?

The $2 billion in liquidations over the past 24 hours was driven by a 7.4% price drop below $100,000, primarily from spot market selling by whales. This contrasts with the larger October crash liquidations of $19 billion, which stemmed from geopolitical trade announcements, leading to forced closures of overleveraged positions.

Will Bitcoin continue dropping to $80,000 in the coming months?

While traders are betting on Bitcoin reaching $80,000 via put options, experts like Markus Thielen from 10x Research suggest a more gradual decline to around $85,000 by spring 2025. Historical patterns from 2021-2022 indicate prolonged whale selling could extend the downtrend, but without the panic of leveraged markets, recovery remains possible with new buyer interest.

Key Takeaways

• Whale Activity Dominates: Over 400,000 BTC sold by long-term holders has been the key driver behind the Bitcoin price drop, reactivating dormant coins for profit-taking.
• Liquidation Scale: $2 billion in 24-hour liquidations highlights ongoing volatility, though less severe than the $19 billion October event tied to U.S. policy shifts.
• Bearish Bets: Increased put options targeting $80,000 reflect trader caution; monitor for signs of stabilization to avoid further slips toward $85,000 as predicted by analysts.

Conclusion

The ongoing Bitcoin price drop below $100,000, fueled by whale sell-offs and $2 billion in recent liquidations, underscores a market transitioning from rally highs to cautious consolidation. As traders position for potential lows around $80,000 to $85,000, historical insights from periods like 2021-2022 suggest resilience amid supply pressures. Investors should watch for renewed buying interest to signal a rebound, staying vigilant on whale movements and global economic cues for long-term opportunities in cryptocurrency.

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