Bitcoin tags $90K as crypto market spike liquidates $120M shorts

1 hour ago

Bitcoin (BTC) returned to $90,000 aft Wednesday’s Wall Street unfastened arsenic traders eyed susceptible abbreviated positions.

Key points:

  • Bitcoin erases caller losses with a caller travel to the $90,000 mark.

  • Liquidity games stay the cardinal operator of short-term BTC terms action, with shorts this clip getting punished.

  • Bearish terms predictions see a “breakdown” beneath the 100-week moving mean cloud.

Liquidity-hungry Bitcoin grills precocious shorts

Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView showed erratic BTC terms enactment sparking 2.5% regular gains earlier a reversal.

BTC/USD one-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView


The momentum copied Tuesday’s US open, which saw a “battle” unfold betwixt buyers and sellers. Then, arsenic now, liquidity connected some sides of the terms was successful the firing line.

“A large determination upwards connected $BTC and determination are a batch of shorts acceptable to beryllium taken out,” crypto trader, expert and entrepreneur Michaël van de Poppe reacted connected X, calling terms enactment “great.” 

“The $88K breakout is crucial, I deliberation that it's precise apt that we'll commencement moving each the mode to $93-94K.”
BTC/USDT four-hour illustration with RSI, measurement data. Source: Michaël van de Poppe/X


Commentator Exitpump likewise praised a “strong” commencement to the US session, eyeing shorts getting “squeezed” supra $88,000.

$BTC Quick pump close supra 88K arsenic mentioned earlier, immoderate shorts got squeezed here, beardown NYO https://t.co/IDIhLYLB3h pic.twitter.com/X48EC2Bq5U

— exitpump (@exitpumpBTC) December 17, 2025

The latest information from monitoring assets CoinGlass showed crypto abbreviated liquidations implicit the 4 hours to the clip of penning passing $120 million.

Total crypto liquidations (screenshot). Source: CoinGlass


“$BTC Pretty overmuch backmost to wherever it traded astir 6 months ago. Liquidity taken connected the mode up and connected the mode down,” trader Daan Crypto Trades summarized astir longer timeframes. 

“The biggest liquidity clump successful comparatively adjacent proximity sits astatine $95K. But each successful each it's beauteous bare each things considered.”
BTC liquidation heatmap. Source: Daan Crypto Trades/X

BTC terms “breakdown” inactive expected

For Caleb Franzen, creator of trading assets Cubic Analytics, Bitcoin’s 100-week elemental (SMA) and exponential (EMA) moving averages were key.

Related: Bitcoin organization buys flip caller proviso for the archetypal clip successful 6 weeks

As Cointelegraph reported, these levels, present some conscionable beneath $85,000, were already connected the radar arsenic a signifier of last-ditch enactment level.

“Bitcoin is connected the verge of breaking beneath its 100-week moving mean cloud, Franzen warned Tuesday.

Franzen frankincense joined those expecting a BTC terms breakdown, saying that this should hap “soon” but that it would besides supply an accidental to bargain the dip utilizing dollar outgo averaging (DCA).

BTC/USD three-day illustration with 100-week SMA, EMA. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView


Others continued to spot caller macro lows connected the horizon, including $76,000, which trader Roman described arsenic “coming successful the adjacent future.”

— Roman (@Roman_Trading) December 16, 2025

This nonfiction does not incorporate concern proposal oregon recommendations. Every concern and trading determination involves risk, and readers should behaviour their ain probe erstwhile making a decision. While we strive to supply close and timely information, Cointelegraph does not warrant the accuracy, completeness, oregon reliability of immoderate accusation successful this article. This nonfiction whitethorn incorporate forward-looking statements that are taxable to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph volition not beryllium liable for immoderate nonaccomplishment oregon harm arising from your reliance connected this information.

This nonfiction does not incorporate concern proposal oregon recommendations. Every concern and trading determination involves risk, and readers should behaviour their ain probe erstwhile making a decision. While we strive to supply close and timely information, Cointelegraph does not warrant the accuracy, completeness, oregon reliability of immoderate accusation successful this article. This nonfiction whitethorn incorporate forward-looking statements that are taxable to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph volition not beryllium liable for immoderate nonaccomplishment oregon harm arising from your reliance connected this information.

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