Bitcoin Sees $465 Million in Liquidations Amid Market Pullback

Bitcoin (BTC) faced renewed market pressure as macroeconomic concerns overshadowed optimism from a brief tariff pause between the U.S. and China. U.S. markets opened with a pullback following a strong rally, as investor sentiment quickly shifted to the broader economic risks posed by escalating trade tensions with China.

That caution spilled over into the crypto space, triggering a wave of liquidations — especially among overly leveraged long positions. According to CoinGlass, Bitcoin saw $11.38 million in liquidated positions, with $9.84 million coming from longs. In total, $465.5 million was wiped out across 134,811 traders within 24 hours, with $26.1 million cleared in just one hour. The largest single liquidation was a $3.33 million BTC/USDT trade on Bybit, emphasizing how aggressively traders had bet on continued upside.

This sudden correction signals a major reset in positioning, with traders caught offside after chasing a short-lived rally. Despite a modestly positive U.S. inflation report — March CPI fell by 0.1% — fears of a deeper economic downturn loom large, especially if trade conflicts escalate into a full-blown recession.

Bitcoin’s volatility remains a central force in the crypto market. Altcoins like XRP, DOGE, and SOL also suffered losses, but BTC led the downturn, reflecting its outsized role as both a market bellwether and the first to react during macro-driven shocks.

As traders recalibrate, Bitcoin’s price action will likely remain sensitive to global headlines. With ongoing trade war fears and recession risks ahead, volatility could persist — reminding investors of the fine line between momentum and overexposure in a highly leveraged crypto environment.