Short sellers lost $329M as Bitcoin surged to $75,900, its highest since early Feb. Weekly BTC ETF inflows hit $767M. The liquidations clear a chunk of leveraged shorts.
Alpha Score of 32 reflects weak overall profile with poor momentum, weak quality, strong sentiment. Based on 3 of 4 signals – score is capped at 90 until remaining data ingests.
Nearly half a billion dollars in leveraged crypto positions were forcibly closed over the past 24 hours. Short sellers took the worst of it. According to CoinGlass data, total liquidations reached $498 million, with $329 million coming from short positions. More than 126,000 traders were affected across all exchanges.
Bitcoin traders saw roughly $184 million in BTC positions wiped out. Ethereum wasn't far behind at about $168 million in liquidations. Bitcoin surged to a session high of $75,900, its highest level since early February. Ethereum climbed toward $2,300, gaining over 2% on the day.
When leveraged shorts are stacked and the price moves against them, exchanges automatically close those positions. Those forced closures create additional buying pressure, which pushes prices higher, which triggers more liquidations. That cascade turned a normal move into a $498 million event.
The timing of this liquidation wave coincided with a surge in institutional capital flowing into crypto through spot ETFs. Spot BTC ETF inflows totaled $767 million over the preceding week. ETH ETF inflows reached $160.8 million during the same period.
Strategy, the company formerly known as MicroStrategy, was among the major buyers adding to their positions. Despite the buying, the company's MSTR stock page shows an Alpha Score of 32/100, a weak rating that suggests the broader market remains cautious on the stock's momentum even as the firm accumulates Bitcoin.
The Fear & Greed Index rose to 28, still firmly in "fear" territory yet representing the highest reading since late January 2026. That combination of a rally to $75,900 while most participants remain nervous is unusual. It points to a move driven by institutional flows, not retail euphoria.
The key variable to watch is whether institutional ETF inflows can maintain their current pace. At $767 million in a single week, BTC ETF inflows are running well above the year-to-date average. If the pace continues, Bitcoin could test $80,000 in the coming days, traders said. A slowdown in flows would open the door to a pullback, especially if new shorts re‑enter at higher levels.
The $329 million in short liquidations also clears a meaningful portion of the short book. That reduces the immediate risk of another forced‑buying cascade on further upside, market participants noted. Crypto market analysis on AlphaScala tracks open interest and flow data daily.
A single day with $498 million in liquidations is a reminder that leverage cuts both ways. The market can move fast, and forced closures amplify the move. Position sizing matters more than direction in these conditions.
Prepared with AlphaScala research tooling and grounded in primary market data: live prices, fundamentals, SEC filings, hedge-fund holdings, and insider activity. Each story is checked against AlphaScala publishing rules before release. Educational coverage, not personalized advice.