In the world of cryptocurrencies, recent market upheavals have rattled traders, leading to a staggering $190 million in liquidations. This significant downturn affected not only Bitcoin but also a multitude of altcoins, causing substantial losses within a mere 24-hour period.
The root causes of this unexpected event can be traced to high funding rates, diminished liquidity, and intriguing news regarding repayments linked to the notorious 2014 Mt.Gox hack. Leveraged positions faced massive liquidations in the futures market, impacting both Bitcoin and a variety of altcoins.
Unexpectedly, the liquidation figures for altcoins outstripped those for Bitcoin during this crypto market turbulence. Altcoins, encompassing approximately $45 million in liquidations, notably surpassed Bitcoin, which accounted for a comparatively lower $36 million in losses. This anomaly highlights the unpredictable nature of the altcoin market, emphasizing its inherent volatility and uncertainty.
Solana’s SOL tokens bore a substantial brunt of this market turmoil, witnessing nearly $20 million in liquidations. Similarly, Bitcoin protocol Ordinals (ORDI) also faced a significant setback with traders experiencing losses amounting to $8 million. These profound losses underscored the risks inherent in leveraging positions within the highly volatile altcoin sphere.
The impact of this market upheaval reverberated across crypto exchanges, with Binance leading the charts in liquidation figures, reporting over $97 million in trader losses. This served as a stark reminder of the imperative need for caution and meticulous risk management in the realm of cryptocurrency trading.
This recent fallout marked one of the largest liquidation occurrences observed in recent weeks, following a massive flush-out that surpassed $500 million in early December. Such recurrent and substantial liquidations served as a stark reminder of the precarious nature of leveraged trading within cryptocurrency markets.
The catalyst behind this sudden market plunge was partially attributed to news surrounding the repayment of victims affected by the infamous Mt. Gox hack of 2014. During this hack, Mt. Gox, a now-defunct cryptocurrency exchange, lost a staggering 850,000 Bitcoin, valued at approximately $36 billion today. Reports began circulating recently, indicating that Mt. Gox had commenced repayments to victims.
Of the various altcoins, Solana’s SOL tokens faced substantial losses, with traders witnessing nearly $20 million in liquidations. Additionally, traders involved with Bitcoin protocol Ordinals (ORDI) encountered losses totaling $8 million. These sizable losses underscore the perils associated with leveraged trading in the exceedingly volatile altcoin market.
Among the counterparts, crypto exchange giant Binance took the brunt of the liquidation storm, reporting over $97 million in liquidations. This marked it as the most severely affected platform amidst the market-wide decline that affected traders across various exchanges. This emphasizes the critical need for caution and prudent risk management when dabbling in cryptocurrency trading.
These recent liquidation figures are among the highest recorded in recent weeks, following a near $500 million wipeout experienced earlier in December. Such frequent and substantial liquidations serve as stark reminders of the inherent risks entwined with leveraged trading in cryptocurrency markets.
Liquidations occur when a cryptocurrency exchange forcibly closes a trader’s leveraged position due to a partial or total loss of the initial margin. This arises when a trader fails to meet the margin requirements, signifying inadequate funds to sustain an open trade. Such occurrences are not uncommon in highly volatile markets like cryptocurrencies.
The abrupt decline in cryptocurrency markets partially stems from reports regarding repayments to victims of the notorious Mt.Gox hack of 2014. In that infamous incident, the now-defunct Mt.Gox exchange lost a staggering 850,000 Bitcoin (BTC), valued at approximately $36 billion today. Reports began circulating that Mt.Gox had commenced repayments to its victims, sparking mixed reactions.
Participants in the mtgoxinsolvency subreddit group claimed to have received payouts in yen via PayPal. However, those opting for cash payouts directly into their bank accounts reported no inflows as yet. These mixed reports concerning Mt.Gox repayments have injected an element of uncertainty into the crypto market, contributing to the ongoing decline.
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