Bitcoin Plunges Below $89K Amid Huge Liquidations and ETF Outflows

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Note: This is an AI generated insight from Arkham's proprietary AI: ULTRA. The content has been edited and verified by one of Arkham’s Editors before being published. To access the insight directly, go to the Insights page on the Arkham Intel Platform.

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Bitcoin (BTC) experienced a sharp downturn, marking a notable 3% price decline that pushed its value below the $90,000 support, even dipping briefly below $88,000 to fill a CME gap.

This downward movement triggered a cascade of liquidations across markets. According to reports, $1.8 billion in leveraged positions were wiped within a 48-hour window as the market reacted to the drop.

Bitcoin spot ETF outflows recorded two consecutive days of outflows, totalling nearly $900 million, according to data from SoSoValue.com.

Macroeconomic Triggers and Risk-Off Sentiment

The crypto slide was heavily influenced by a broader global market sell-off and a prevailing "risk-off" sentiment among investors.

Bitcoin's dip is linked directly to turmoil in US equities and the Japanese bond market. Further analysis highlighted an environment driven by rising Japanese Government Bond yields and escalating tariff tensions between the US and Europe, leading investors to adopt defensive positions.

Adding to the unease, political uncertainty surrounding Donald Trump’s trip to Davos was cited as another factor causing traders to brace for increased volatility.

Whales De-Risk and Institutions Pull Back

Significant activity from large holders, known as "whales," contributed materially to the selling pressure. One prominent whale executed a significant "de-risking" move, reducing a long position on Hyperliquid by 524.25 BTC (valued at approximately $46.3 million).

Additionally, nearly 295 BTC were observed flowing into Binance from separate whale accounts. These transfers painted a mixed picture of strategy: one transfer involving 145 BTC resulted in a realized loss of over $3 million, suggesting capitulation. Conversely, another whale transferred 150 BTC to realize a profit of over $8.8 million, indicating strategic profit-taking amidst the volatility.

Institutional interest also showed signs of waning. Bloomberg reported that Wall Street is currently pulling back from the Bitcoin basis trade, further dampening market sentiment.

Derivatives Market Turns Bearish

Data from the derivatives market reflected a clear shift toward bearish sentiment as the dip occurred.

Leading up to the drop, funding rates for BTC perpetuals showed positive outliers. This indicated that many traders were still holding onto bullish leveraged positions, which likely acted as fuel for the subsequent cascade of liquidations when prices turned.

In the options market, a positive implied volatility outlier suggested heightened uncertainty. Furthermore, a "negative delta skew" indicated a strong preference among traders for put options, signifying a prevailing bearish outlook and increased demand for downside protection.