Bitcoin Just Lost $144 Billion in One Day — Here’s What Actually Happened
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The last twenty-four hours were some of the most violent we’ve seen all year. Bitcoin erased $144 billion, more than $800 million in longs were liquidated, and the biggest anti-crypto titan on Wall Street — Vanguard — just reversed course and opened the gates to Bitcoin ETFs.
If you’re still on the sidelines, the last day just rewrote the entire crypto landscape.
Below is the real breakdown, no recycled headlines, no fluff — just the data that matters.
Bitcoin Price Crash: Worst Single-Day Drop Since March
Bitcoin (BTC) plunged to $83,824, marking its worst daily crash since March. The market has stabilized slightly, with Bitcoin trading around $86,978, still down more than 5%.
The bleeding didn’t stop there:
Ethereum dropped 6% to $2,746
Solana collapsed 9% to $124
Total crypto market cap fell below $3 trillion, wiping out hundreds of billions overnight
$791 million in leveraged positions were liquidated — mostly over-levered longs chasing new all-time highs
Thin holiday liquidity mixed with macro pressure created a perfect storm.
Why Crypto Crashed: The Three Catalysts Nobody Can Ignore
The correction wasn’t random. It was triggered by a combination of:
1. Razor-thin holiday liquidity
Big moves cut deeper when fewer traders are active.
2. Bank of Japan rate-hike fears
Japan’s shift toward tightening sent shockwaves through global risk markets.
3. China’s renewed crackdown
Beijing delivered a sweeping crackdown on stablecoins and crypto payments, sending miners, OTC desks, and stablecoin issuers into panic.
Meanwhile, BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF saw $2.3 billion in outflows over the last month — its worst stretch since February.
DeFi Turmoil: YFI Exploit Sends Shockwaves
The Yearn Finance yETH vault suffered a $3 million flash-loan exploit, with another $6 million still sitting untouched in the attacker’s wallet.
This comes at the worst possible time, with liquidity already stretched thin.
Winners & Losers in the Chaos
Not every project got wrecked.
Aptos (APT)
Saw $420+ million in stablecoin inflows in a single day.
NEXO
Surprised the market with a 6% pump.
Zcash (ZEC)
Collapsed 20%, becoming one of the day’s biggest losers.
The Biggest Shock: Vanguard Finally Capitulates
The most anti-crypto institution on Wall Street — Vanguard, the $11 trillion asset-management giant — has now officially flipped.
Starting today, Vanguard clients can buy Bitcoin, Ethereum, and every major spot crypto ETF.
This is a landmark shift.
This is legacy finance surrendering to crypto’s demand.
Institutional Moves: MicroStrategy, Sony, Grayscale & More
It wasn’t all doom.
MicroStrategy
Added another 130 BTC, bringing its total to 650,000 Bitcoin — a level that cements them as one of the largest corporate holders on Earth.
Sony Bank
Confirmed a USD-pegged stablecoin launching in 2026, designed specifically for gaming and anime ecosystems.
Grayscale
Announced the first-ever Chainlink ETF, launching this week.
Global Crypto Developments
A rapid-fire look at the global sentiment:
China’s central bank doubled down: crypto remains fully illegal
Kazakhstan is considering $300 million in Bitcoin for its national reserves
Telegram’s Pavel Durov unveiled Cocoon, a decentralized AI network built on TON
Tether refuted insolvency fears, highlighting $7 billion in excess equity and $23 billion in cumulative profits
The message? Crypto may be volatile, but it’s not going away.
Grayscale Forecast: New Bitcoin All-Time Highs in 2026
Grayscale believes Bitcoin hits new all-time highs in 2026, even though December has kicked off with pure violence.
The next big catalyst?
The Federal Reserve.
One word from Powell can light the market on fire again.
Final Thoughts
The crypto market just survived one of its most chaotic days of the year. Billions vanished, a Wall Street titan flipped bullish, institutions kept stacking, and regulatory pressure intensified.
This is not a normal market cycle — it’s the early stages of a historic multi-trillion-dollar wealth transfer.
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Disclaimer
Quick disclaimer: I’m not a licensed financial advisor. This is for educational purposes only and not financial or investment advice. Crypto is volatile — never invest more than you can afford to lose. Do your own research!
