BTC Flash Dip May Have Triggered James Wynn Liquidation on Hyperliquid Amid Wave of Long Liquidations

• BTC flash crash under $110,000 forced ~$47M in long liquidations

• High-profile traders James Wynn and Machi Big Brother suffered major losses but retained public profiles and trading activity.

• Volatility jumped from 0.88% to 1.83%; Hyperliquid perp DEX open interest recovered to $7.7B (BTC OI $2.9B).

BTC flash crash under $110,000 forces $47M in long liquidations, wiping positions of whales like James Wynn and Machi Big Brother; volatility rises now.

By COINOTAG — Published: October 16, 2025. Updated: October 16, 2025.

What caused the BTC flash crash and mass liquidations?

BTC flash crash refers to the rapid price drop below $110,000 that triggered a cascade of forced exits across perpetual futures markets. Rapid deleveraging removed approximately $47M in long positions, elevating short-term volatility and briefly depressing BTC price action before a partial recovery.

Risk-taking trader James Wynn experienced another round of liquidations during the swift downturn. Wynn returned to the Hyperliquid platform shortly after its largest liquidation event earlier in October, positioning sizable long exposure that was closed when the flash crash hit.

BTC had another flash crash to under $110,000, causing a wave of long liquidations, as trader James Wynn lost all his long positions on Hyperliquid. | Source: Coingecko

How was James Wynn liquidated in the flash crash?

James Wynn’s positions—spanning BTC, ETH and PEPE—were forcibly closed after price action moved sharply against leveraged longs. Wynn reported losses of roughly $142,000 stemming from positions he re-established on Hyperliquid on October 15 and held into the volatile session on October 16. The liquidation deployed standard margin engine mechanics on the perp DEX, matching price slippage to margin thresholds and closing at-market to preserve counterparty solvency.

On-chain data and platform metrics (Hyperliquid reporting) show the event coincided with elevated orderbook gaps and concentrated long exposure among whale wallets. CoinGecko price feeds and exchange-level aggregates recorded the dip and subsequent rebound, corroborating the scale of liquidations and the intraday volatility spike.

Market impact and platform metrics

The flash crash briefly pushed Bitcoin under $110,000, then recovered above $111,000 as buyers stepped in. Volatility rose from recent lows of 0.88% to about 1.83% during the episode, amplifying liquidation risk for leveraged long positions. Across derivatives markets, approximately $47M in long positions were liquidated on BTC markets during the event.

Hyperliquid’s perp DEX metrics registered increased activity: open interest climbed back to $7.7B from lows near $6.2B following earlier October liquidations. BTC-specific open interest grew by roughly $500M to $2.9B. Long traders outnumbered shorts, with platform counts near 28,000 longs and 11,327 shorts; ASTER showed particularly high long exposure, with about 81% of whale positions long.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much did James Wynn lose in the October liquidations?

James Wynn’s most recent liquidation cost him approximately $142,000, covering closed long positions in BTC, ETH and PEPE. The loss follows earlier October drawdowns and used the same wallet address linked to previously reported large liquidations.

Did the BTC flash crash affect other whales or platform stability?

Yes. Machi Big Brother (Jeffrey Huang) was partially liquidated, recording over $328,000 in losses. Despite concentrated losses, Hyperliquid’s margin systems maintained solvency and the platform’s open interest metrics recovered—indicating the event was severe but not systemic.

Key Takeaways

• Immediate impact: The BTC flash crash forced roughly $47M in long liquidations and briefly pushed BTC below $110,000.
• High-profile losses: Traders like James Wynn (~$142K loss) and Machi Big Brother (~$328K loss) were directly affected but remain active public traders.
• Platform resilience: Hyperliquid’s open interest and user counts recovered, suggesting the liquidation wave was a market stress event rather than a platform failure.

Conclusion

The recent BTC flash crash under $110,000 produced a concentrated, high-impact liquidation event that closed positions across major whales and retail traders alike. Official metrics from Hyperliquid and market aggregates (CoinGecko) confirm $47M in long liquidations and a marked jump in volatility, while open interest figures recovered to pre-crash levels. COINOTAG will continue tracking on-chain data and platform reports as markets normalize; traders should reassess leverage and risk management in volatile conditions.