Crypto Liquidations Top $570M as Bitcoin Falls Below $73,000 After CPI Print
Leveraged long positions across crypto markets were forcibly closed in large volume as Bitcoin fell to a multi-month low below $73,000 following a higher-than-expected US CPI reading. Estimates of total liquidations differ between sources, with one citing $179 million in the past hour and another $570 million in longs over 24 hours.
Written by CoinArticle’s AI Newsroom · from 2 cited sources. How we work
Bitcoin Drops to a Multi-Month Low
Bitcoin fell to a low of about $72,700 on Tuesday, according to CryptoPotato, its weakest level since the August breakout began. The decline came after the US Consumer Price Index release showed a month-over-month increase above expectations, which pushed Bitcoin down nearly $1,000 within minutes. Bitcoin had already fallen from above $81,000 to below $76,000 the previous Thursday, then dropped to a local low near $73,600 on Monday.
Altcoins Post Steeper Losses
Ethereum fell more than 5% to about $2,010, close to the $2,000 support level. XRP dropped by a similar percentage to below $1.05, Solana declined 5% to about $82, and Zcash fell nearly 13% to roughly $1,030, according to CryptoPotato. Crypto Briefing put Bitcoin near $74,500 and Ethereum near $2,115 in its report, figures that predate the sharper intraday move described by CryptoPotato.
Liquidation Totals Differ by Source
The size of the liquidation event is reported differently across the two sources. Crypto Briefing, citing a report from @WhaleInsider, said $179 million in long positions were liquidated in the past hour and about $269 million across the trailing 24 hours, following more than $1 billion in leveraged liquidations earlier in the week. CryptoPotato, citing CoinGlass data, reported $580 million in total liquidations over the past four hours, of which $484 million were longs, and nearly $700 million over 24 hours, with $570 million from longs. The gap likely reflects different measurement windows and data providers, and neither source reconciles the figures.
CryptoPotato reported that Ethereum accounted for $252 million of the liquidations and Bitcoin for close to $200 million, with more than 115,000 traders affected. The largest single liquidated position was worth more than $31 million and occurred on the HTX exchange. Crypto Briefing also flagged Hyperliquid for attention given its recent market movements, though the report did not detail the reason.
What to Watch
Both sources point to continued volatility as the immediate variable, with Crypto Briefing highlighting possible announcements from major exchanges or large market participants as potential drivers of sentiment. Subsequent liquidation data from CoinGlass or similar trackers will indicate whether the deleveraging continues or stabilizes.
Why It Matters
For Traders
Heavy long liquidations and a break below $73,000 in Bitcoin raise the risk of further forced selling in the next 24-72 hours, so leverage exposure deserves close attention.
For Investors
A sharp reaction to a single inflation print signals that macro data continues to drive crypto prices, which may matter for multi-month positioning.
For Builders
Liquidation cascades of this size stress margin engines and oracle pricing, so protocols with leveraged products should review their liquidation logic.
This article is for information only and is not financial advice. Read the full disclaimer.
