News
  • Shrishesh Tanksalkar
    author-profile
    Shrishesh Tanksalkar right arrow
    Author

    Shrishesh is a versatile writer with 2+ years of experience in cryptocurrencies. An engineer turned storyteller, this selective introvert is a wannabe biker on weekends.

    • 2 minutes read

    Why the Crypto Market is Down Today: BTC, ETH, XRP Lead the Drop?

    Story Highlights
    • Over $647M liquidated in 24 hours, ETH and BTC saw $150M+ each wiped out

    • Long squeeze triggers 123% BTC liquidation surge as price loses critical $116k support

    • Altcoin Season Index slumps to 40/100, signaling fading risk appetite

    The global cryptocurrency market has taken a sharp downturn today, shedding over 1% from its total market cap, now sitting at $3.8 trillion. Meanwhile, 24-hour trading volume has spiked by 9.15%, a sign of turbulence rather than growth. From Bitcoin’s stumble below $116k to widespread liquidations across altcoins, today’s decline is driven by a combination of over-leveraged bets, profit-taking, and capital flight from riskier assets.

    What Happened?

    Long Squeeze Triggers Chain Reaction

    Bitcoin’s drop below $116k shattered its major short-term support, triggering a massive $585M in long liquidations within 24 hours. ETH followed closely, losing $104M in longs, while altcoins like Dogecoin (-7%) and PAAL AI (-4.8%) were among the worst performers. 

    The average funding rate across exchanges (+0.008%) indicates excessive bullish leverage, now being punished. The domino effect pushed BTC liquidations up by 123%, forcing automated sell-offs and creating further downward pressure.

    Why Now?

    Profit-Taking After a 30-Day Rally

    After a 16% gain over the last month, which was mainly driven by ETF optimism and retail FOMO, many traders are now cashing in. The 21-day RSI climbed to 74.25 (overbought territory), while MACD showed bearish divergence (-3.68B), hinting at trend exhaustion. Stablecoin inflows surged $11B in July, a signal that investors are temporarily parking funds in safer assets.

    Altcoins Face Added Pressure

    Rotation into Safety

    Altcoins are bearing the brunt as Bitcoin dominance rises to 60.8%. Illiquid and speculative tokens, such as memecoins, tanked sharply due to post-hype sell-offs and thin order books. Uncertainty around the GENIUS Act’s stablecoin regulations is further driving caution, reducing trader appetite for high-beta bets.

    Conclusion

    Today’s dip is less about panic and more about profit-taking, exaggerated by a high-leverage market setup. With the Fear & Greed Index still at a greed-driven score of 66, sentiment remains optimistic, but fragile. If BTC can defend $115k ahead of Friday’s U.S. PCE inflation data, we could see fresh buying emerge. However, a deeper macro sell-off or further liquidations may flip the sentiment decisively bearish.

    FAQs

    What triggered the market drop today?

    A combination of long position liquidations, overbought technicals, and profit-taking after a major rally.

    Is this the start of a deeper correction?

    Not necessarily, as the key support at BTC’s $115k and ETH at $3,500 could bring dip-buyers back if held.

    What should I watch next?

    Keep an eye on Friday’s U.S. PCE data, Bitcoin’s support at $113k–$115k, and ETF inflow trends.

    Trust with CoinPedia:

    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.

    Investment Disclaimer:

    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 and Advertisements:

    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.

    Show More

    Related Articles

    Back to top button