Crypto Markets Shed $140 Billion in Sudden Sell-Off

Crypto markets suffered a sharp and rapid drawdown that wiped roughly $140 billion from total capitalization within hours, dragging the market close to the $3 trillion threshold. The sell-off unfolded late Monday and extended into early Tuesday trading, catching traders off guard and reinforcing expectations of heightened volatility this week.

Total market capitalization slipped to a three-week low near $3.02 trillion, with bitcoin leading the downturn. BTC broke decisively below the $90,000 support level and lost nearly $5,000 in a short span, sliding to around $85,200. That move marked bitcoin’s weakest price since the major leverage flush earlier in December. By the Asian trading session, price action remained fragile, with bitcoin hovering below $86,000 and showing limited signs of an immediate recovery.

Leverage Unwinds and Macro Anxiety Drive the Decline

Analysts offered a range of explanations for the sudden drop, with leverage dynamics emerging as a central theme. Market commentator Sykodelic pointed to a sharp spike in derivatives open interest, noting that the latest move down coincided with the largest increase in open positions seen in more than six weeks. As bearish sentiment has grown, traders have increasingly chased downside momentum, layering short positions and creating a feedback loop that amplifies volatility.

Derivatives data from Deribit showed around $2 billion in open interest concentrated near the $85,000 strike price. As bitcoin fell toward that level, hedging activity from short sellers likely added pressure, as spot and futures selling intensified into the decline.

Stress Signals Flash Across the Bitcoin Market

Broader stress indicators suggest the sell-off may reflect deeper market strain rather than a single headline-driven event. Analyst James Check observed that bitcoin market stress is now at its highest level since the 2022 bear market. He highlighted a surge in unrealized losses, weakening hash rates, and a large portion of recent ETF inflows sitting underwater.

Crypto-linked treasury stocks trading below their net asset values further underscore investor caution. Together, these signals point to a market grappling with tighter liquidity, elevated leverage, and growing sensitivity to macro risks—conditions that can magnify moves when sentiment turns abruptly negative.

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