Bitcoin Rebounds Toward $79,000 as 24-Hour Crypto Liquidations Top $300 Million

Bitcoin recovered toward $78,000 after a sharp pullback, while Ether led a catch-up rally above $2,500, reviving activity across the cryptocurrency market. The abrupt rebound also exposed the risks embedded in leveraged derivatives: rapid price swings can trigger cascading liquidations as exchanges forcibly close positions that no longer meet margin requirements, amplifying both gains and losses.

Crypto liquidations reached $1.46 billion over one 24-hour period, with nearly 190,000 traders forced out of their positions. A later market snapshot still showed about $390 million in liquidations as Bitcoin reclaimed roughly $77,000 and Ether outperformed. The recovery then faltered, with Bitcoin slipping below $78,000 and Ether losing $2,500 following remarks by Warsh on Federal Reserve policy, while the market’s fear gauge continued to rise.

Bitcoin has struggled to break decisively away from $64,000 while Ether trades around the closely watched $1,900 threshold, signaling limited conviction across digital-asset markets. Softer-than-expected U.S. producer inflation for July and record highs in major U.S. equity indexes have supported broader risk appetite, but crypto investors remain cautious. The Fear and Greed Index is still in fear territory despite improving from recent lows.

Bitcoin was hovering near $64,000 in the latest 24-hour period, while Ether eased to about $1,862. Crypto derivatives liquidations totaled roughly $203 million, with short positions accounting for nearly 67% as the market’s rebound forced bearish traders out of leveraged bets. The Fear and Greed Index recovered to 46 but remained below the greed threshold, leaving prices vulnerable to incoming U.S. economic data and further shifts in leveraged positioning.

U.S. producer prices fell 0.3% in June, led by a 6.4% drop in energy costs, adding to softer consumer inflation and reinforcing expectations that the Federal Reserve could shift toward easier policy. That backdrop matters for cryptocurrencies because lower rate expectations can support risk assets. Bitcoin and Ether had already been recovering from July 2 lows of $59,660 and $1,601, respectively, making the latest move a test of whether improving macroeconomic conditions can revive investor appetite.

Bitcoin climbed to $65,600 late on July 15 but slipped to about $64,608 on the morning of July 16, down 0.31% over 24 hours as buying momentum faded. Ether bucked the pullback, gaining 1.88% to $1,915 after touching $1,946.50. CoinGlass recorded $309 million in liquidations involving 78,540 traders during the period, with short positions accounting for nearly 60% of the total. Alternative.me’s Crypto Fear & Greed Index remained at 25, signaling extreme fear despite the two-week price recovery.

As the leading cryptocurrency, Bitcoin’s price swings have long served as a barometer for global crypto and fintech markets. The cryptocurrency recently came under sharp downward pressure as geopolitical tensions escalated and the US Federal Reserve signaled a hawkish monetary policy stance. Renewed inflows into spot exchange-traded funds have since provided strong support for the crypto market, leaving Bitcoin’s outlook closely linked to macroeconomic indicators and institutional fund flows.

Bitcoin rebounded sharply on July 16, 2026, after a steep selloff, powering back above $63,500. The short squeeze liquidated more than 57,000 traders across the crypto market over the previous 24 hours, with total liquidations exceeding $160 million. Short positions accounted for nearly 60% of the total. Despite the near-term recovery, the market remains under pressure from the Federal Reserve’s hawkish stance and geopolitical tensions.

Bitcoin and Ether are key bellwethers for the crypto market. When prices surge, leveraged short positions betting on declines can be forcibly closed because of insufficient margin, pushing prices still higher in a short squeeze. The rebound therefore reflects not only improving risk sentiment but also the danger of cascading liquidations caused by highly leveraged trading.

On July 3, Bitcoin first reclaimed $61,000 and climbed as high as about $64,700 intraday, while Ether broke above $1,700 and later topped $1,800. Crypto liquidations totaled about $458 million over 24 hours, with short positions accounting for the majority, and more than 92,000 traders were affected. Spot ETFs continued to record net outflows, while Citi cut its Bitcoin price target to $82,000, citing factors including a shift in capital toward AI.

Bitcoin and Ether are the crypto market’s two largest assets, and their prices often drive moves in altcoins and derivatives positions. Exchanges forcibly close highly leveraged contracts when their margin becomes insufficient, and cascading liquidations can deepen a decline. Liquidation totals therefore offer a gauge of market risk and investor sentiment.

In the early hours of June 10, 2026, Taipei time, Bitcoin broke below the $63,000 support level and fell through $61,000, while Ether tested $1,600. CoinGlass data showed that more than 120,000 traders were liquidated over 24 hours, with total liquidations reaching $380 million and the largest single order on Binance totaling $8.05 million. By June 25, BTC had fallen below $60,000 again, with liquidations exceeding $650 million and nearly 140,000 traders affected.

Bitcoin previously plunged after being hit by U.S. nonfarm payrolls data, triggering cascading liquidations of leveraged positions. The subsequent rebound also lifted Ether and other crypto assets, but investor sentiment remained in extreme-fear territory as outflows from U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs continued and markets awaited the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI).

The latest wave of buying pushed Bitcoin back to about $64,000, briefly touching $64,200. Based on differing data sets, roughly 97,000–105,000 traders were liquidated over 24 hours, with total liquidations ranging from $270 million to $675 million. Short positions accounted for more than $540 million in losses, representing over 80% of the total.

Bitcoin and Ether are the two largest crypto assets by market capitalization, and their prices are often driven by global risk appetite, leveraged capital and geopolitical developments. Signs of easing tensions in the Middle East on July 20, 2026, sent capital flowing back into risk assets. Bitcoin's ability to hold above $76,000 is now seen as an important technical test before a potential move toward $85,000.

The latest wave of buying pushed Bitcoin above $76,000 and close to $77,000, while Ether climbed above $2,400. CoinGlass data showed that more than $637 million in crypto derivatives positions were liquidated across the market in the 24 hours through July 20, 2026, affecting more than 190,000 traders. Analysts said Bitcoin could target $85,000 if it holds firmly above $76,000.

The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, while Pakistan's government proposed extending the ultimatum deadline for Iran, temporarily easing geopolitical risks. Oil retreated as stocks and cryptocurrencies rebounded, signaling a renewed shift toward risk assets and putting heavily leveraged traders betting on further crypto declines under mounting liquidation pressure.

Bitcoin briefly topped $72,700 in early trading on April 8, while Ether rose above $2,260. About $600 million in cryptocurrency positions was liquidated over the previous 24 hours, affecting roughly 120,000 traders. Separate data showed that news of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire triggered about $427 million in combined liquidations of short positions in Bitcoin, Ether and oil.

Bitcoin and Ether are the two largest crypto assets by market capitalization, and their price moves often sway the broader market and derivatives positions. A recent rebound in demand for U.S. spot Ether ETFs, coupled with increased buying by BitMine, has drawn capital back into the market. When highly leveraged trades become concentrated, sharp price gains can also trigger cascading short liquidations.

On the evening of March 16, Ether surged about 10% at one point and broke above $2,300, while Bitcoin topped $74,000. Market data showed that liquidations of crypto derivatives across the market approached $400 million over the previous 24 hours, affecting more than 96,000 investors and signaling a large-scale, rapid exit from short positions.