Why Was the Drop in Altcoins So Significant? An Expert Explains

The cryptocurrency market experienced one of the biggest single-day losses in recent years with a sharp decline on Friday night.

The loss in value reached billions of dollars. Experts say that following this collapse, signs of a gradual stabilization are emerging in the markets.

The decline came shortly after the US government announced new tariffs on technology products imported from China. This development caused panic among investors and triggered a chain reaction of selling in the markets.

“Investors were forced to close their positions, causing prices to go into free fall,” Joshua Duckett, director of a cryptocurrency forensic analysis firm, said in a statement.

Duckett stated that leveraged trading magnifies losses, saying, “Losses in leveraged trading in the crypto sector are at billions of dollars. Some people lost hundreds of dollars, some thousands, some millions.”

Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency, fell below $102,000 during the crash, while Ethereum and other major altcoins also lost more than 20% in just a few hours. Investors, particularly those with high leverage, were unable to maintain their positions in the face of the sudden drop and were liquidated.

“The crypto market reacted more strongly than the stock market because it is open 24/7,” Duckett said. “Many cryptocurrencies lost value in the last 24 hours. This was driven by both news and investor psychology.”

Emphasizing the impact of leveraged trading on the market, Duckett said, “In cryptocurrency, investors can borrow up to a hundred times their assets. When these positions are liquidated, large price movements are inevitable, but this time the direction was down.”

Duckett stated that the sharp selling wave triggered chain liquidations, adding, “This situation has created a liquidation spiral.”

However, the outlook isn't entirely bleak. According to Duckett, signs of recovery are beginning to appear in the market: “The market is currently in a state of equilibrium. How things will unfold tomorrow will depend on new developments.”

The expert offered this final warning to investors: “The number one rule is to never invest more than you can afford to lose. Also, researching what you're investing in is crucial.”