On Sunday evening, around 6:15 p.m. Eastern time, bitcoin slipped below the $95,000 perch it had clung to for the past day, giving up about 3% in the process. The asset brushed an intraday low of $91,917 per coin as gold and silver headed the opposite direction, charging into fresh price highs.
Bitcoin Stumbles Into the New Week Bruised and With Thin Liquidity
Bitcoin slid on Sunday night heading into a brand-new week, dipping below the $92,000 zone as sellers leaned in. At the time of writing, the price hovered just under $93,000 after absorbing a wave of heavy selling pressure and brisk volume.
The pullback rippled across the broader ecosystem, trimming roughly 2% from the crypto economy and knocking it down to about $3.16 trillion. Out of the top ten majors, solana ( SOL) and XRP took the brunt of the hit, each sliding 5% during the hour-long swoon. Over the last hour, Coinglass data shows $544.25 million flushed out of crypto derivatives markets, with $137 million in BTC longs getting vaporized in the process.
BTC/USD 1-hour chart via Bitstamp on Jan. 18, 2026.
For the day, liquidations reached $653.92 million, and 235,442 traders watched their positions disappear—proof that the Sunday evening bitcoin selloff packed a serious punch. The move was magnified by thin weekend liquidity, leaving markets extra sensitive to pressure. At the same time, precious metals marched higher, with gold touching $4,679 per ounce and silver reaching $93.38.
Also read: Congress Slams SEC’s Crypto Retreat — Oversight Concerns Raised by House Democrats
Amid the turbulence, ongoing geopolitical strains, and U.S. President Trump’s new tariffs pushed markets into de-risking mode, nudging buyers to the sidelines. Trump’s latest tariff announcement, posted on Jan. 17, 2026, via Truth Social, targets eight European countries and escalates his long-running effort to acquire Greenland from Denmark. The U.S. Senate’s decision to delay a market structure bill likely added another layer of caution over Saturday and Sunday.
So far, Sunday’s slide wrapped the week with a thud, as thin liquidity and stacked leverage turned routine selling into a broad crypto dump. Liquidations did the heavy lifting, dragging prices lower across majors while sidelining buyers. Until volume steadies and leverage cools, volatility remains in the driver’s seat—and weekends may keep delivering whiplash for traders caught on the wrong side tonight.
FAQ 🍿
- Why did bitcoin fall below $92,000 on Sunday?
Thin weekend liquidity and heavy selling pressure, combined with derivatives liquidations, pushed prices lower.
- How much was liquidated during the crypto selloff?
More than $650 million was wiped from crypto derivatives markets, with BTC longs taking a large share of the damage.
- Which cryptocurrencies were hit hardest in the drop?
Solana and XRP led losses among major assets, each sliding about 5% during the sharp pullback.
- What broader factors added pressure to crypto markets?
U.S. tariff headlines, geopolitical tensions, and delayed legislation fueled de-risking across global markets.
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