After weeks of sideways trading, Bitcoin price today fell below $106,000, creating worry in crypto markets worldwide. This drop is close to last Friday’s fall, when BTC went down to $104K because of Trump’s tariff news. The sudden drop also pushed the Crypto Fear & Greed Index to 22, showing extreme fear.
So, what caused today’s drop?
One of the biggest reasons for Bitcoin’s recent price drop was Donald Trump’s speech accusing China of “economic sabotage.” He blamed its trade and oil deals with Russia for hurting global markets and announced 100% tariffs on all Chinese imports starting November 1, 2025.
Trump also warned tariffs could rise to 500% if China keeps supporting Russia’s energy sector, a move backed by over 85 U.S. senators according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Adding to the pressure, Bitcoin’s spot ETFs saw one of their largest daily outflows ever on October 16, totaling $531 million. For the first time, all major ETF issuers including BlackRock, Grayscale, ARK Invest, and Fidelity, recorded outflows on the same day.
Analysts suggest institutions are locking in profits and reducing exposure amid rising geopolitical uncertainty.
The price drop was further amplified by the massive liquidations. Data from CoinGlass showed that $961 million worth of crypto positions were liquidated in just 24 hours, hitting over 260,000 traders worldwide.
Most of these were long positions, totaling around $749 million, accelerating Bitcoin’s fall below the key $106K level.
On top of it all, the Crypto Fear & Greed Index’s fall from 56 to 22 highlights extreme fear in the market.
Meanwhile, the so-called “Trump Insider Whale” reportedly opened a $127 million Bitcoin short before Trump’s speech, heightening speculation of insider moves
Right now, fear is taking over the crypto market. Traders are watching last week’s low of $104,396. If Bitcoin falls below this, it could drop further to $100,000.
Bitcoin’s drop below $106,000 is driven by new US tariff threats against China, massive ETF outflows, and the liquidation of over $900 million in leveraged trades.
Proposed high tariffs on China create economic uncertainty, prompting investors to sell risky assets like Bitcoin and leading to significant outflows from crypto ETFs.
It’s when leveraged trades are automatically closed due to insufficient funds. Nearly $1 billion was liquidated, accelerating the price drop as traders were forced to sell.
CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.
All opinions and insights shared represent the author's own views on current market conditions. Please do your own research before making investment decisions. Neither the writer nor the publication assumes responsibility for your financial choices.
Sponsored content and affiliate links may appear on our site. Advertisements are marked clearly, and our editorial content remains entirely independent from our ad partners.
The crypto market has turned red today, with tokens like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP trading…
The broader crypto market has been under pressure in recent weeks, with prices moving lower.…
The crypto market remains under pressure this week. XRP slipped below $2, shaking confidence in…
The US financial landscape witnessed good numbers on December 18 from an key 3-star news.…
In crypto markets, the strongest shifts often begin quietly. A project advances through its roadmap,…
For years, crypto investors have relied on one idea more than almost any other: the…
