Crypto Markets Record $12.5 Billion in Liquidations in October 2026

Bitcoin dips below $80,000 during October 2026 triggered waves of long liquidations, which accounted for about 74% of $12.5 billion in forced crypto position closures.

Bitcoin (BTC) traded between $76,000 and $84,000 during the month. Bitcoin and Ether (ETH) were the main assets tied to the liquidation totals.

Leverage lets traders increase a position using borrowed funds. A long position is structured to benefit from rising prices, while a short position is positioned for a decline. When a price move leaves a position with too little collateral to meet margin requirements, an exchange can close it automatically.

Long liquidations totaled $9.213 billion, while short closures came to $3.29 billion. The difference was $5.923 billion, and the two figures add to $12.503 billion, which rounds to $12.5 billion. Long liquidations were about 2.8 times the short total.

The highest daily total came on Oct. 30, at nearly $1.67 billion; long positions made up 86% of that amount. Liquidations also exceeded $500 million on several other days. TokenPost previously covered the 24-hour liquidation surge tied to Oct. 30.