Bitcoin Liquidations Surpass $375 Million as BTC Tops $96,000 – What’s Next in 2026?
- Why Are Bitcoin Liquidations Surging?
- Where Are the Liquidation Hotspots?
- Is Institutional Money Flooding Back Into Bitcoin?
- Can Bitcoin Really Double in 2026?
- What’s Driving BTC’s Price Recovery?
- FAQs
Bitcoin’s wild ride continues as over $375 million in positions were liquidated in the past 24 hours, with BTC briefly crossing $96,000. Short sellers are sweating as another $1 billion in shorts face liquidation risks if bitcoin hits $97,100. Meanwhile, institutional interest is heating up, with Bitcoin ETFs seeing $753 million in inflows and Michael Saylor’s MicroStrategy adding another 13,627 BTC to its stash. Analysts predict BTC could double by year-end, potentially reaching $180,000–$200,000. Buckle up—2026 is shaping up to be a rollercoaster for crypto.
Why Are Bitcoin Liquidations Surging?
According to Coinglass data, Bitcoin liquidations exceeded $375 million in the past 24 hours, with over $100 million wiped out in just the last hour. The bulk of these were short positions, as BTC’s price surge caught traders off guard. Platforms like Binance, OKX, and Bybit saw the highest activity, with Binance alone accounting for $48.79 million in liquidations. The pressure isn’t over yet—if BTC climbs to $97,100, another $1 billion in shorts could get liquidated. Talk about a domino effect!
Where Are the Liquidation Hotspots?
Coinglass’s liquidation heatmap reveals that the biggest short leverage clusters sit at $96,202 (totaling $451.49 million) and $96,282 ($157.04 million on Binance). Most of these positions used insane 100X leverage—a high-stakes gamble that backfired spectacularly. Here’s the breakdown:
- Binance: $48.79 million liquidated (100X leverage dominated)
- OKX: $54.47 million
- Bybit: $67 million
Is Institutional Money Flooding Back Into Bitcoin?
Absolutely. After a four-day exodus that saw $1.3 billion pulled from Bitcoin ETFs, the tide turned on January 12. Since then, inflows totaled $753.73 million, led by:
- Fidelity’s FBTC: $351.36 million
- BlackRock’s IBIT: $126.27 million
- Bitwise BITB: $159.42 million
MicroStrategy also made headlines, buying 13,627 BTC for $1.25 billion (avg. price: $91,519). They now hold 687,410 BTC—worth $66.33 billion at current prices. That’s a 27.78% increase in their treasury holdings. Not bad for a "software company."
Can Bitcoin Really Double in 2026?
Latin American exchange Mercado Bitcoin thinks so. Their latest report predicts BTC could hit $180,000–$200,000 by December, citing regulatory progress and growing corporate demand. If accurate, Bitcoin’s market cap WOULD reach 14% of gold’s—a seismic shift. CryptoQuant data adds fuel to the fire: Binance’s Bitcoin-to-stablecoin ratio just hit 1.0, signaling growing buying pressure.
What’s Driving BTC’s Price Recovery?
As of January 15, BTC trades at $95,734 (up 4.6% weekly and 9.56% YTD). The rebound follows a rocky start to 2026, but analysts see three tailwinds:
- ETF inflows: Institutional money is returning.
- Short squeeze potential: Liquidations could accelerate gains.
- Macro trends: Bitcoin’s correlation with stablecoin reserves suggests renewed confidence.
FAQs
How much Bitcoin was liquidated recently?
Over $375 million in BTC positions were liquidated in 24 hours, per Coinglass.
Which exchange had the most liquidations?
Binance led with $48.79 million, followed by OKX ($54.47M) and Bybit ($67M).
What’s MicroStrategy’s current Bitcoin holding?
687,410 BTC, worth $66.33 billion at current prices.
