The crypto market crash that began on October 10 has turned into one of the most devastating selloffs in digital asset history. Triggered by a wave of forced liquidations totaling nearly $19 billion, the event wiped out thousands of overleveraged positions across the market.
According to the Total crypto liquidation chart data, the majority of the losses came from long traders, signaling widespread panic and a sharp risk-off sentiment. The entire week was filled with liquidations, with amounts close to $23 billion collectively wiped out from October 10th to October 17th.
In the aftermath, Bitcoin (BTC) plunged below critical support levels, touching $103,600, while Ethereum (ETH) fell to $3,700, and XRP dropped to $2.20. The magnitude of the crash also spilled into derivatives and ETF markets, where Bitcoin ETFs recorded over $500 million in outflows, while Binance saw user withdrawals of around $185 million in a single day.
October 17 Liquidation Adds $1.21 Billion More to the Tally
The pain didn’t end with the initial plunge on October 10th. The crypto market crash in October 2025 extended for a full week, and the Crypto market liquidations today show that the market conditions have worsened as volatility remains severe.
In the latest record on October 17, another $1.21 billion in positions were liquidated, marking one of the most volatile sessions since the initial collapse. Over 294,000 traders were wiped out within 24 hours, highlighting how fragile sentiment remains.
Similarly, digging more into it, it’s observed that initially there were bullish attempts to recover, but between October 14–17, the liquidation pattern shifted again in favour of bears. As a result, market-wide in the crypto sector, short-term recovery attempts failed, with longs again dominating the wipeouts.
On the 14th, about $700 million was erased; on the 15th, $450 million more; on the 16th, roughly $730 million vanished. By the 17th, bearish dominance returned in full force, showing the market has yet to stabilize. The largest single liquidation occurred on Hyperliquid today, on October 17th, where an ETH-USD position worth $20.42 million was force-closed.
Why Did the Crypto Market Crash Today?
Several crypto market crash reasons converged to create this storm. First, the global trade tensions escalated after President Trump’s renewed 100% tariff threats on China, sparking a sharp selloff across global markets.
Second, the ongoing U.S. government shutdown has heightened investor anxiety, while Bitcoin ETF outflows signal institutional risk aversion.
The result is a broad risk-off environment, where traders prefer cash and stable assets over crypto exposure. This is the reason why the Gold price (XAU/USD) is rocketing and reached an ATH of $4380 today. Compounding the situation, excessive leverage and cascading margin calls amplified volatility, creating a domino effect across exchanges.
Key Technical Levels and What Comes Next
From a technical standpoint, the crypto market crash news was the initial subject that scared weak hands and the market saw sell-offs, and this occurrence still points to more potential downside if current supports fail in top blue-chip cryptos.
Bitcoin now faces its next psychological test at $100,000, with a potential extension to $95,000 if bearish pressure intensifies. For Ethereum, the 200-day EMA near $3,550 acts as a critical line of defense, while XRP price chart shows $2.00 level is seen as its immediate safety net.
Looking ahead, traders are mainly eyeing the Federal Reserve meeting on October 29, where the CME FedWatch tool assigns a 97% chance of a 0.25% rate cut. Such a move could inject much-needed liquidity into the market and potentially trigger a short-term rebound. Until then, the market remains on edge as traders brace for more volatility.
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