Bitcoin News Today: Tariffs Trigger $19B Crypto Liquidations, Exposing Market's Leverage Vulnerabilities

The cryptocurrency market experienced unprecedented turbulence on October 10–11, 2025, as U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 100% tariff on Chinese imports, escalating trade tensions and triggering a global sell-off. The move, coupled with China's prior export restrictions on rare earth minerals, led to over $19.1 billion in liquidations across crypto markets, wiping out 1.6 million traders within 24 hours Crypto Liquidation hits $19B as Trump’s China Tariff ... - Coinpedia^[1]. Bitcoin (BTC) plummeted more than 12%, briefly falling to $102,000 from an all-time high above $125,000, while Ethereum (ETH) and XRP dropped 15.62% and 22.85%, respectively Trump’s China Tariff Rocks Crypto Market: Bitcoin Falls Hard, …^[2]. The global crypto market capitalization fell to $3.8 trillion, a $400 billion decline in one day, with the Crypto Fear & Greed Index shifting sharply from "Greed" to "Fear" Trump tariffs upend crypto market, trigger record liquidations^[3].

The liquidations were attributed to leveraged positions in perpetual futures contracts, which amplified losses as prices fell. Hyperliquid, a decentralized exchange, recorded a single liquidation of $203 million in Ethereum, the largest individual loss. Analysts warned of systemic risks, with Brian Strugats of Multicoin Capital noting the potential for "contagion" across financial institutions Crypto Liquidation hits $19B as Trump’s China Tariff ... - Coinpedia^[1]. David Jeong of Tread.fi described the event as a "black swan," emphasizing that institutions had underestimated volatility and leverage in the market Trump tariffs upend crypto market, trigger record liquidations^[3].

The sell-off rippled beyond crypto. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq fell 2.7% and 3.6%, respectively, marking their worst performance since April 2025. Traders and institutions scrambled for safety, with Bitcoin's next critical support level identified at $100,000. Caroline Mauron of Orbit Markets warned that a break below this threshold could signal the end of a three-year bull cycle Crypto Liquidation hits $19B as Trump’s China Tariff ... - Coinpedia^[1]. Meanwhile, some market participants viewed the crash as a buying opportunity. Arthur Hayes of BitMEX noted that "stink bidders" might capitalize on discounted altcoins, though the broader market remained cautious Crypto Liquidation hits $19B as Trump’s China Tariff ... - Coinpedia^[1].

The event highlighted crypto's sensitivity to macroeconomic shocks. Vincent Liu of Kronos Research attributed the crash to "US-China tariff fears but fueled by institutional over-leverage," underscoring the sector's interconnectedness with global trade dynamics Trump tariffs upend crypto market, trigger record liquidations^[3]. Regulatory frameworks for liquidations remain fragmented, with U.S. spot markets lacking standardized margin rules compared to equities. This gap allowed rapid deleveraging, compounding the crisis Crypto Markets Crash $10 Billion After Trump’s 100% China Tariffs^[4].

As of October 11, Bitcoin hovered near $111,000 with deeply negative funding rates, indicating ongoing bearish sentiment. Analysts emphasized the need for regulatory clarity and risk management tools to prevent future systemic shocks. The episode underscored the dual role of cryptocurrencies as both speculative assets and barometers of geopolitical instability.