Crypto Market Tumbles as $588M Liquidations Spark Panic

• The US stock market lost $1.5 trillion in a day, sparking a $588 million liquidation in the crypto market, with XRP hit hardest.
• Federal Reserve rate cut projections for 2025 reduced optimism, shifting trader sentiment from “Extreme Greed” to “Fear.”
• Analysts warn of further sell-offs by 2025 due to delayed regulatory policies, while rumors of a new ETF raise recovery hopes.

The US stock market experienced a dramatic loss of over $1.5 trillion in a single trading day. This decline sent shockwaves through financial markets, impacting cryptocurrencies significantly.

Notably, the sell-off was triggered by a series of unsettling events, including Federal Reserve rate cuts and geopolitical tensions like Israel’s airstrikes on Iran-backed groups in Yemen. The crypto market faced notable turmoil as traders offloaded assets amid growing uncertainty.

📉 After the FOMC interest rate cuts, both crypto and equities traders were left feeling a bit concerned. Not because of the current cuts, but due to Jerome Powell’s projection for 2025 to have half the amount of rate cuts as expected.

Altcoins, in particular, have gotten… pic.twitter.com/LVR2oIvCRu

— Santiment (@santimentfeed) December 19, 2024

Crypto Liquidations Reach $588 Million

Additionally, the crypto market recorded liquidations amounting to $588 million in the past 24 hours. XRP witnessed the heaviest impact, with $69 million liquidated as its price dropped from $2.82 to $2.56. Bitcoin followed with $60 million in losses after its price fell below $96,000. Ethereum, too, faced a sharp sell-off, losing nearly $58 million.

Moreover, Altcoins were not spared in the market upheaval. Avalanche, Chainlink, Litecoin, and Pepe each saw price declines of around 16%. XRP dropped by 6.74%, trading at $2.35, while Solana recorded a 9.79% decline over the week, now priced at $208.49. The sudden shift from “Extreme Greed” to “Fear” among traders has contributed to the widespread sell-off.

Market Sentiment Shaken by Federal Reserve Policy

Consequently, market sentiment turned cautious following the Federal Reserve’s recent rate cuts. The central bank indicated that fewer rate reductions might occur in 2025 than initially anticipated. This projection spooked traders in both traditional and digital asset markets. The apprehension was further amplified by volatile economic conditions and increasing geopolitical risks.

However, despite the broad sell-off, certain assets performed well. Ethena (ENA) rose by 11.66%, trading at $1.18, driven by its new utility features. Movement (MOVE) gained 11.48%, reaching $0.7171 due to strong community engagement.

Analysts Warn of Further Volatility

Arthur Hayes, former CEO of BitMEX, issued a warning about the potential for further market volatility. He suggested that the crypto market could see another downturn around Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025. Hayes believes delayed regulatory policies due to political disagreements could fuel additional market sell-offs.

Therefore, although analysts note the current turmoil, some view this period as a buying opportunity. Many predict that 2025 could still be a pivotal year for Bitcoin, with potential for new all-time highs. Additionally, rumors of a new cryptocurrency exchange-traded fund (ETF) slated for next year are sparking hope for market recovery.

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