Flow

Wednesday

Bitcoin

Choppy

when

<ul class="wp-block-list">
 <li>Bitcoin dipped below $85K and Ether under $3K as thin liquidity amplified sell-offs and leveraged positions unwound.</li>
 <li>Over $1.4B in liquidations hit markets last week, with derivatives driving sharp intraday price swings.</li>
 <li>Bitcoin dominance rose as institutions favored BTC and ETH, while retail traders rotated away from altcoins.</li>
</ul>
<p>Crypto markets faced sharp pressure last week as prices fell, liquidations surged and liquidity thinned ahead of the holidays. According to <a href="https://x.com/wintermute_t/status/2003430814206263491?s=20" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Wintermute</a>, Bitcoin dropped below $85,000 midweek, while Ether slipped under $3,000 during global trading sessions. Leveraged positions unwound, driven by selling pressure and thin order books.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="strong-price-swings-and-liquidation-pressure-strong"><strong>Price Swings and Liquidation Pressure</strong></h2>
<p>At the start of the week, selling intensified across major cryptocurrencies. Notably, Bitcoin fell below $85,000 by midweek before stabilizing. Ether followed a similar path, dropping under $3,000 during the same period. As prices declined, liquidations accelerated sharply.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Wintermute reported roughly $600 million in <a href="https://cryptofrontnews.com/btc-and-eth-range-bound-as-year-end-liquidity-thins/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">liquidations</a> on Monday. Subsequently, another $400 million occurred on both Wednesday and Thursday. However, by week’s end, volatility eased slightly. Bitcoin gradually climbed back toward $90,000 as trading activity slowed.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="strong-flow-data-and-market-structure-shifts-strong"><strong>Flow Data and Market Structure Shifts</strong></h2>
<p>As prices fluctuated, broader market structure continued to tighten. Notably, Bitcoin dominance increased again, extending a trend seen throughout the second half of the year. Meanwhile, <a href="https://cryptofrontnews.com/altcoin-market-shows-historic-patterns-ahead-of-potential-surge/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">altcoins lagged</a>, weighed down by supply overhangs and scheduled token unlocks.&nbsp;</p>
<p>According to Wintermute’s internal flow data, buying pressure persisted in major assets. Bitcoin maintained sustained inflows, while Ether showed renewed buying interest near year-end. Institutional flows remained consistent since summer, while retail traders rotated away from altcoins toward Bitcoin and Ether.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="strong-derivatives-positioning-and-year-end-conditions-strong"><strong>Derivatives, Positioning and Year-End Conditions</strong></h2>
<p>Despite steady spot buying, derivatives continued to drive price discovery. As a result, sharp intraday drops emerged when leveraged positions unwound quickly. This dynamic appeared in positioning data, with <a href="https://cryptofrontnews.com/doge-signals-early-reversal-as-short-term-stru/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">funding rates</a> and basis remaining compressed during the sell-off.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Meanwhile, options markets priced wide outcomes, with implied volatility elevated. Traders positioned for both a decline toward the mid-$80,000 range and a rebound toward recent highs. Looking ahead, Wintermute noted lighter activity into year-end, as liquidity stayed thin and desks wound down.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cryptofrontnews.com/crypto-markets-turn-choppy-as-bitcoin-reclaims-90k/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Crypto Markets Turn Choppy as Bitcoin Reclaims $90K</a> appears on <a href="https://cryptofrontnews.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Crypto Front News</a>. Visit our website to read more interesting articles about cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and digital assets.</p>

Crypto Markets Turn Choppy as Bitcoin Reclaims $90K

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