Bitcoin (BTC) has made headlines by surpassing the $80,000 threshold for the first time ever, thanks to a surprising surge over the weekend that led to the liquidation of $300 million in bearish trades.
This 5% increase has pushed its weekly gains to over 16%, coinciding with significant political and economic events, including Donald Trump’s election as U.S. president and a 25 basis point rate cut by the Federal Reserve—both seen as positive signals for traders.
Typically, weekend price jumps in the crypto world are viewed as bullish, largely because trading activity tends to slow down when institutional investors take a break.
This lower trading volume can result in more pronounced price swings, meaning even minor trades can have a big impact. The recent spike suggests that retail investors are actively engaging in the market, which is a promising sign of widespread interest beyond just institutional players.
On the flip side, the weekend also saw a staggering $300 million in losses for those betting against the market, with significant liquidations in both Bitcoin and Ether shorts.
Additionally, other cryptocurrencies like DOGE and Solana’s SOL experienced over $25 million in liquidated trades, indicating a growing interest in futures trading beyond the major players.
Liquidations occur when exchanges close out a trader’s leveraged position because they can’t meet margin requirements. Such large-scale liquidations can signal extreme market conditions, whether from panic selling or buying.