Bitcoin Dives Below $88K — Liquidations Surge & Altcoins Get Hit Hard
Bitcoin has slipped below the key $88,000 level, marking a fresh 2026 low and sparking significant selling pressure across crypto markets. This breakdown beneath a major psychological support triggered waves of leveraged long liquidations, with over $150 million wiped out in just one hour and hundreds of millions more over 24 hours as traders were forced to exit positions.
The correction wasn’t limited to BTC. Ethereum’s price fell toward the $2,800–$2,900 range, mirroring Bitcoin’s weakness, and other major altcoins — including Solana — also slid sharply as liquidations rippled through the market.
Experts point to a mix of factors behind the sell-off:
Technical selling below key support levels, which often accelerates downward moves when stops are hit.
Rising macro uncertainty, including risk-off sentiment driven by broader financial market concerns.
Overleveraged positions that couldn’t withstand the downturn, forcing forced liquidations.
The broader crypto market cap also took a hit, dipping toward roughly $3 trillion as bearish pressure spread and sentiment turned cautious.
In short: Bitcoin’s fall below $88,000 wasn’t just a price print — it triggered cascading liquidations and broad sell-offs in Ethereum, Solana, and many other tokens, underscoring the volatility and leverage risk still present in crypto markets.
