Bitcoin experiences intense volatility triggering $625 million in liquidation, with both long and short positions being wiped out simultaneously.

January 22 News, the 2026 crypto market experienced a round of extreme volatility, with Bitcoin prices showing a rapid rollercoaster of sharp declines and rebounds within 24 hours, triggering a rare wave of segmented liquidations. Data shows that over $625 million worth of crypto contract positions were forcibly liquidated, affecting approximately 150,000 traders, making it one of the most impactful events in recent Bitcoin price fluctuations.

Statistics from CoinGlass indicate that long and short liquidations were nearly equal, with longs being liquidated for about $306 million and shorts reaching $319 million. This near-balanced liquidation structure suggests a sharp reversal in market sentiment within a short period, with the market direction repeatedly switching, making it difficult for leveraged traders to cope. During this period, Bitcoin briefly fell below $88,000 before quickly rebounding to around $90,000, with the rapid switch in price ranges directly triggering chain reactions of liquidations.

In terms of single liquidation cases, an ETH/USD position was forcibly liquidated for as much as $40.22 million, becoming the most notable case in this round of market movement. Multiple derivatives platforms saw a significant increase in liquidation amounts, with over 70% of liquidations coming from short positions, indicating that many traders overbet on a decline before the rebound, only to be caught off guard by the market reversal.

Behind this intense Bitcoin volatility, macro factors continue to play a role. Uncertainty surrounding US trade policies, rapid fluctuations in bond yields, and remarks by Trump at the Davos World Economic Forum have collectively amplified market uncertainty. In such an environment, risk assets are more prone to sharp rises and falls, making it difficult for cryptocurrency prices to remain unaffected.

In phases lacking clear trends, the market is more likely to experience “chainsaw” movements, with prices frequently reversing amid tug-of-war between bulls and bears, while high leverage amplifies each fluctuation into a potentially fatal risk. The current Bitcoin market has sent a warning to traders: in an environment of still-high volatility, over-reliance on leverage strategies is very likely to once again become victims of a liquidation storm.