TLDR

The crypto market fell 1.76% over the last 24 hours, primarily driven by a sharp Bitcoin sell-off that triggered a cascade of leveraged liquidations. This extends a weekly loss of 8.18%, though the market remains essentially flat over 30 days (+0.09%). Main factors behind the 24h move:

1. **Liquidation Cascade** – Bitcoin broke below $88k, liquidating over $130M in leveraged longs in one hour, accelerating the decline.

2. **Macro & Political Uncertainty** – Fears of a US government shutdown and trade tensions pressured risk assets, reducing crypto demand.

3. **Weak Technical Momentum** – The total market cap broke below key support, with bearish indicators like a negative MACD reinforcing selling pressure.

Deep Dive

### 1. Liquidation Cascade (Bearish Impact)

**Overview:** Bitcoin's price plunged below $88,000 on January 25, reaching a five-day low. This move triggered a violent unwind of leveraged positions, with over [$130 million in liquidations](https://cryptopotato.com/bitcoin-price-suddenly-plunges-below-88k-as-hourly-liquidations-explode/) occurring in just 60 minutes. The derivatives market saw total open interest drop 5.65% and funding rates plummet 78.63%, signaling rapid deleveraging.

**What it means:** The sell-off was amplified by forced closures of bullish bets, creating a feedback loop of selling. This highlights the market's vulnerability to high leverage during periods of thin liquidity.

**Watch for:** Whether Bitcoin can stabilize above the $85,500 support level (its 50-day moving average). A break lower could trigger another wave of liquidations.

2. Macro & Political Headwinds (Bearish Impact)

**Overview:** Analysts linked the correction to rising geopolitical tensions, including the threat of a U.S. government shutdown and potential 100% tariffs on Canada. These events increase risk aversion, prompting capital to flow out of volatile assets like crypto. The 30-day correlation with the S&P 500 (SPY) is a positive 0.50, meaning shared macro catalysts matter.

**What it means:** Crypto is not trading in isolation. Broader financial uncertainty is dampening investor appetite, overshadowing project-specific news.

**Watch for:** Developments around the potential U.S. shutdown and key economic data that could shift risk sentiment.

Conclusion

Today's decline stems from a technical breakdown in Bitcoin that sparked a derivatives-driven sell-off, compounded by a cautious macro backdrop. For holders, this underscores the market's sensitivity to leverage and external shocks. The key question for the next 24–48 hours is: **Will spot Bitcoin ETF flows turn positive to absorb the selling pressure, or will the break of $88k lead to a test of deeper support near $85k?**