The crypto market witnessed one of its harshest trading sessions of 2026. Traders lost more than $563 million in leveraged long positions within 24 hours. ThisThe crypto market witnessed one of its harshest trading sessions of 2026. Traders lost more than $563 million in leveraged long positions within 24 hours. This

Why Did Bitcoin And Ethereum Traders Lose $563M In Just 24 Hours?

2026/05/18 16:19
4 min read
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The crypto market witnessed one of its harshest trading sessions of 2026. Traders lost more than $563 million in leveraged long positions within 24 hours. This event marked the largest single-day liquidation since February. Panic spread quickly across major exchanges as prices collapsed without warning. Ethereum accounted for the biggest share of losses, while Bitcoin followed closely behind.

The sudden crypto liquidation wave shocked both retail traders and institutions. Many investors expected market stability after recent bullish momentum. Instead, aggressive selloffs wiped out overleveraged positions within hours. Traders watched billions disappear from the market as volatility surged across the crypto sector. Ethereum alone contributed nearly half of the total liquidations.

Ethereum Takes The Biggest Hit In The Market Collapse

ETH suffered the most damage during this market crash. Data showed nearly $244 million in Ethereum long liquidations within one day. Traders heavily bet on ETH moving higher after weeks of bullish sentiment. However, the market reversed sharply and trapped thousands of leveraged positions.

Many traders expected Ethereum to maintain strength above key resistance zones. Instead, sellers dominated the market and pushed prices lower quickly. Liquidation engines accelerated the decline as exchanges closed underwater positions automatically. This chain reaction intensified losses across the broader crypto market.

Bitcoin Traders Face Severe Market Pressure

Bitcoin also recorded significant losses during the liquidation event. Traders lost approximately $160 million in long positions as BTC prices dropped sharply. The Bitcoin market crash added further stress to an already nervous crypto environment.

Several analysts pointed toward weakening momentum near critical resistance zones. Bitcoin failed to sustain bullish continuation patterns during recent sessions. Once support levels collapsed, liquidations accelerated rapidly across futures markets.

The Bitcoin market crash grew fear among short-term traders. Many investors rushed to protect capital after volatility intensified. Spot buyers remained cautious as derivatives markets experienced heavy turbulence. This created additional momentum throughout the trading session.

Why The Crypto Liquidation Wave Became So Extreme

Several factors contributed to the scale of this crypto liquidation wave. Excessive leverage played the biggest role in amplifying losses. Many traders entered aggressive positions after weeks of bullish momentum across altcoins and Bitcoin.

Market liquidity also weakened significantly during the selloff. Lower liquidity conditions often increase volatility during sudden price movements. Once prices began falling, automated liquidation systems accelerated the decline even faster.

Macroeconomic uncertainty added more pressure to the crypto market. Rising oil prices, inflation concerns, and cautious central bank policies continue affecting risk assets all around the world. Crypto markets remain highly sensitive to broader economic sentiment.

Traders Focus On Risk Management After Heavy Losses

Risk management returned to the center of trading discussions after the crash. Many experienced traders emphasized position sizing and leverage control following the liquidation event. New investors especially faced harsh lessons during this volatile session.

The crypto liquidation wave highlighted how quickly profits can disappear in leveraged markets. Traders who ignored stop losses suffered the biggest damage. Many accounts disappeared entirely after rapid liquidations across exchanges.

Professional traders now encourage a more defensive approach. They recommend lower leverage, stronger portfolio diversification, and disciplined entry strategies. Volatility will likely remain elevated throughout the coming weeks.

Final Thoughts on Bitcoin and Ethereum

Market participants now focus on several key indicators after the massive selloff. Bitcoin support zones remain critical for overall market direction. Ethereum also needs to regain momentum to restore bullish confidence.

Traders will closely monitor derivatives activity during upcoming sessions. Rising open interest combined with aggressive leverage could increase liquidation risks again. Analysts also watch macroeconomic events that may influence broader market sentiment.

The post Why Did Bitcoin And Ethereum Traders Lose $563M In Just 24 Hours? appeared first on Coinfomania.

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