The cryptocurrency market has faced another brutal downturn, with Bitcoin plummeting below $88,000, triggering a staggering $1.55 billion in liquidations over the past 24 hours.
This wave of forced sell-offs primarily impacted long positions, wiping out $1.37 billion, while shorts accounted for $176.4 million. Ethereum and Solana were also hit hard, with ETH liquidations reaching $297 million and SOL seeing $94.4 million in forced exits.
The cascading effect has left traders scrambling as funding rates remain volatile and open interest fluctuates across major exchanges.
Institutional Players Double Down on Bitcoin Amid Sell-Off
While retail traders are feeling the heat, large institutional players continue to accumulate Bitcoin aggressively. Strategy recently added $2 billion worth of BTC, acquiring 20,356 BTC in a single move. This accumulation showcases how deep-pocketed investors are taking advantage of the dip, reinforcing Bitcoin’s long-term bullish narrative even amid short-term volatility.
Despite accumulation by firms such as Strategy, ETF data indicates conflicting trends in BTC and ETH investment flows. Bitcoin ETFs have seen an impressive $39.03 billion in cumulative inflows, but recent days have been marked by major outflows, including $539 million on February 24.
Ethereum ETFs, on the other hand, have accumulated $3.08 billion, yet they remain under pressure. These flows suggest that institutional investors are still weighing their exposure to crypto amid uncertain market conditions.
Adding to the chaotic market dynamics, Citadel Securities is reportedly entering the crypto space as a market maker for major exchanges, which could help stabilize liquidity in the long run. However, the immediate impact of extreme volatility has led to a surge in exchange liquidations, with Bybit leading the pack at $660 million, followed by Binance at $327 million and OKX at $189 million.
Despite the turbulence, these liquidity providers will play a key role in determining how quickly the market can recover from this downturn.
Funding Rates and Open Interest: Signs of Market Stress
Funding rates have turned negative for several assets, reflecting mounting bearish sentiment. Bitcoin’s funding rate dropped to 0.0111%, while Ethereum and Solana showed similar declines, signaling that traders are adjusting their positions to hedge against further downside. Meanwhile, open interest data revealed a 4.47% decline in BTC futures contracts, suggesting a wave of liquidations that wiped out overleveraged traders.
Institutional accumulation continues, but retail traders remain at risk due to leverage-heavy positioning. ETF flows, funding rates, and open interest will be key indicators to watch as the market attempts to find equilibrium in the face of ongoing volatility.
