Bitcoin

The market has been shaken again. Against the backdrop of a new escalation in the trade war between the US and the EU, Bitcoin and most altcoins fell sharply almost immediately after the opening of Asian markets and the futures session. Over the weekend, positions worth more than $870 million were <a href="https://cryptopotato.com/btc-crashes-below-92k-as-liquidations-surge-toward-900m-on-us-eu-trade-war-escalation/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">liquidated</a>, of which nearly $790 million were long positions. The number of affected traders approached 250,000 — CoinGlass data speaks for itself. A classic sell-off: sharp movements, a cascade of liquidations, and a massive outflow from risky assets.
However, this decline should not be viewed as an isolated incident. The panic is exacerbated by the broader global context — from Donald Trump's statements about “complete control” over Greenland to mirror tariffs, emergency meetings in the EU, and discussions about the so-called trade bazooka — an instrument of economic pressure that has not been used before. As gold reaches new record highs and Nasdaq futures come under pressure, the cryptocurrency market is once again at the epicenter of geopolitical turmoil.
At times like these, exiting the market seems like the most rational move: cut your losses, wait out the storm, and return when things calm down. However, the history of crypto cycles tells a different story. It is during panic sell-offs that conditions are created in which it is not those who pressed the “sell” button who win, but those who were able to integrate into the market infrastructure — to work with liquidity, spreads, and order flows. And here a key question arises: what if, in a downturn, it is not those who leave the market who survive, but those who enter MM programs?
<h3 id="when-fear-strikes-market-making-programs-strike-back">When Fear Strikes, Market Making Programs Strike Back</h3>
A sell-off rarely destroys deposits instantly — much more often it destroys rationality. During a sharp market decline, most traders act not according to strategy, but under the influence of fear: panic, FUD, and the desire to “get out and wait it out” are repeated in every cycle.
The problem is that an emotional exit in the midst of a market crash usually means locking in losses at the worst possible moment. The trader loses not only capital, but also a key advantage — the opportunity to recover their position or profit from the decline.
Psychology is complicated by technology. Mass liquidations create a liquidity shortage: orders are executed with delays, stops “slip,” exchanges delay or restrict trading. As a result, even a cold-blooded trader may be physically unable to execute a decision. The sell-off turns into a trap where the “Exit” button does not work.
It is at times like these that market-making programs come to the fore — a tool often perceived as the privilege of exchanges or large institutional players. In fact, it directly affects a key issue for traders during a crisis — the ability to remain in the market.
Market making is systematic liquidity support: the constant availability of bid and ask prices, tight spreads, and stable order book operation even during periods of peak volatility. For traders, this boils down to a simple but extremely important advantage — the ability to trade when others are forced to watch from the sidelines.
MM programs allow you to:
<ul>
 <li>maintain liquidity not only for top assets, but also for the middle segment of the market;</li>
 <li>ensure correct execution of orders in moments of panic;</li>
 <li>automate trading processes and reduce the influence of emotional decisions.</li>
</ul>
In such conditions, traders do not “exit the market” but work with it: they restructure their positions and use volatility as a working tool rather than a threat.
<h3 id="how-whitebit-saved-traders-when-others-froze-crypto-andy-s-case">How WhiteBIT Saved Traders When Others Froze: Crypto.Andy’s Case</h3>
A telling example is the <a href="https://coinmarketcap.com/community/post/369592413/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">case</a> of TOP CoinMarketCap KOL Crypto.Andy during the crash on October 10, 2025 — the day when the total volume of liquidations on the market exceeded $19.3 billion. Most exchanges, including the leading ones, experienced disruptions or effectively stopped trading: traders could neither close positions nor open new ones.
Crypto.Andy traded Arbitrum (ARB), an asset with average liquidity, far from the level of BTC or ETH. At the same time, on WhiteBIT:
<ul>
 <li>the stop limit on the long position worked correctly;</li>
 <li>the short position was executed without technical glitches;</li>
 <li>later, the position was closed manually, and a long position was opened at almost the local minimum.</li>
</ul>
While other platforms were “frozen,” liquidity remained available. This not only allowed him to avoid a scenario of forced liquidations, but also to turn market stress into a trading opportunity.
<h3 id="turning-volatility-into-opportunity-my-take-on-mm-programs">Turning Volatility into Opportunity: My Take on MM Programs</h3>
Traders who decide to participate in market making behave quite differently. In practice, I have noticed that they do not just “stay afloat” during sharp market fluctuations — they often gain a real advantage in times of crisis. MM programs allow you to consistently earn on spreads, reduce commissions, and receive bonuses, which directly affects survival and scaling opportunities during a sell-off.
When it comes to specific exchanges, I would highlight the following three programs:
1. <a href="https://institutional.whitebit.com/market-making-program" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">WhiteBIT</a> offers:
<ul>
 <li>Minimal fees and rebates of up to -0.012% for spot and margin trading;</li>
 <li>In addition, traders receive sub-accounts for strategy management, a fast API with WebSocket, FIX, and webhook;</li>
 <li>As well as 24/7 personal support — ideal for those who want to respond quickly to market changes.</li>
</ul>
2. <a href="https://www.bitget.com/market-maker" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Bitget</a> offers:
<ul>
 <li>Maker fee rebates ranging from -0.005% to -0.015% depending on trading volume;</li>
 <li>In addition, participants receive extended sub-accounts and API limits;</li>
 <li>As well as access to dedicated technical support, making it easier to scale operations even during periods of volatility.</li>
</ul>
3. <a href="https://www.gate.com/institution/market-maker-program" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Gate.io</a> offers:
<ul>
 <li>Rebates of up to -0.015% and an additional market maker protection system (MMP);</li>
 <li>Traders can receive interest-free loans of up to 400,000 USDT to increase their trading volume;</li>
 <li>And 24/7 technical support ensures that even on stressful days, the market won't catch you off guard.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="in-the-end">In the end,</h3>
market turbulence is not just a test of capital — it’s a test of preparation and strategy. Those who panic and exit lock in losses; those who integrate into market-making programs turn volatility into opportunity. In crypto, survival doesn’t always mean stepping aside — sometimes, it means stepping in. And as my experience shows, with the right tools and the right platform, even a sell-off can become your next trading advantage.

The Traders Who Win During Crashes Aren’t Selling — They’re Making

Table of Contents

Vlad Anderson

Other articles published on Jan 26, 2026

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