Crypto’s $19B Bloodbath: Trump’s Tariff Shock Ignites Largest Liquidation Ever

• •
  Record-shattering $19.31B in 24-hour crypto liquidations, dwarfing COVID and FTX crashes by 19x amid Trump’s China tariff bombshell.
• •
  Longs obliterated: $16.81B wiped out versus $2.50B in shorts, fueling a brutal flash crash across BTC, ETH, and altcoins.
• •
  Experts predict a gradual bottoming process over days, not a quick rebound, as U.S.-China trade fears loom large.

In the annals of crypto history, few events rival the carnage unleashed on October 11, 2025. As Bitcoin and Ethereum futures charts flashed crimson, the market hemorrhaged a staggering $19.31 billion in liquidations over 24 hours—the largest single‑day wipeout on record. This wasn’t a mere dip; it was a liquidation tsunami, evoking the infamous December 2021 bear market prelude that birthed months of pain. Long positions bore the brunt, with $16.81 billion vaporized compared to a mere $2.50 billion in shorts, underscasing the overleveraged euphoria that preceded the fall.

The spark? President Trump’s abrupt announcement of 100% tariffs on Chinese imports and stringent export controls on software, igniting fresh U.S.–China trade war fears. Wall Street’s ensuing sell‑off cascaded into crypto, amplifying a flash crash that saw Bitcoin plummet 15% intraday, Ethereum shed 18%, and altcoins like XRP crater 42% to $1.64 before clawing back to $2.36. Solana and Dogecoin joined the rout, dropping 20‑40% to multi‑month lows, as trading volumes for XRP spiked 164% above averages. Institutional futures open interest evaporated by $150 million, a testament to the forced unwinding of bullish bets.

Comparisons to past cataclysms are stark. The COVID market panic in March 2020 liquidated just $1 billion, while the FTX implosion in November 2022 matched that figure—peanuts against today’s 19‑fold escalation. As @AliCharts noted on X, this mirrors the “liquidation candle” that signaled 2021’s bear awakening, a harbinger of prolonged downside. Data from CoinGlass confirms the asymmetry: longs dominated the wreckage, flooding exchanges with sell orders and exacerbating the spiral.

Experts like Zaheer Ebtikar, CIO at Split Capital, paint a sobering picture. “This isn’t a V‑shaped rally setup,” he warns, outlining a multi‑phase bottoming: initial bleeding as market makers pause to arbitrage mismatches, followed by data feed stabilization and dealer unwinds hampered by weekend illiquidity. Assets with tighter supply dynamics may fare better, but rebuilding confidence could drag on, especially if trade tensions escalate. “All bets off,” Ebtikar adds, if geopolitical headlines persist.

Yet, in crypto’s chaotic theater, pain often precedes rebirth. This reset purges excess leverage, potentially anchoring prices for a more sustainable climb. For now, though, traders hunker down—history whispers that today’s rekts could forge tomorrow’s legends. As the dust settles, one question looms: Is this the bear’s roar, or just another bull trap’s echo?

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. CoinCryptoNewz is not responsible for any losses incurred. Readers should do their own research before making financial decisions.