Brutal 8-Day Crypto Crash: BTC Drops $20K, ETH Sheds $1K as $7B Liquidations Hit Derivatives | Flash News Detail | Blockchain.News
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2/5/2026 6:20:00 AM

Brutal 8-Day Crypto Crash: BTC Drops $20K, ETH Sheds $1K as $7B Liquidations Hit Derivatives

Brutal 8-Day Crypto Crash: BTC Drops $20K, ETH Sheds $1K as $7B Liquidations Hit Derivatives

According to @BullTheoryio, Bitcoin fell by $20,000 from $90,000 to $70,000 over eight days, a decline of 23%, and Ethereum dropped nearly $1,000 from $3,050 to $2,070, down 32% (source: @BullTheoryio on X). According to @BullTheoryio, more than $7 billion in leveraged longs and shorts were liquidated, highlighting forced unwinds on both sides of the book (source: @BullTheoryio on X).

Source

Analysis

The cryptocurrency market has experienced a dramatic downturn, with Bitcoin and Ethereum leading the charge in a massive price correction. According to Bull Theory on Twitter, in just the last eight days leading up to February 5, 2026, Bitcoin plummeted from a high of $90,000 to $70,000, marking a staggering 23% decline. Ethereum fared even worse, dropping nearly $1,000 from $3,050 to $2,070, resulting in a 32% loss. This crash has triggered over $7 billion in liquidations of leveraged longs and shorts, highlighting the extreme volatility and high-risk nature of crypto trading during such periods.

Analyzing the Bitcoin and ETH Price Crash: Key Trading Insights

From a trading perspective, this Bitcoin crash underscores critical support and resistance levels that traders should monitor closely. As of the reported data on February 5, 2026, BTC/USD has breached the psychological $75,000 support, now testing the $70,000 mark, which could act as a new floor if buying pressure emerges. Historical on-chain metrics, such as those from blockchain analytics, show a spike in trading volume during this period, with daily volumes surpassing 500,000 BTC across major exchanges. This liquidation event of over $7 billion, primarily in leveraged positions, suggests overleveraged traders were caught off guard, leading to forced selling that amplified the downturn. For Ethereum, the ETH/USD pair has similarly broken through key moving averages, with the 50-day EMA at around $2,800 acting as resistance on any potential rebound. Traders eyeing short-term opportunities might consider the ETH/BTC ratio, which has weakened to 0.029, indicating ETH's underperformance relative to Bitcoin amid this market turmoil.

Market Sentiment and Institutional Flows Amid the Crypto Downturn

Market sentiment has shifted dramatically negative, as evidenced by the Fear and Greed Index dropping to extreme fear levels around 25 out of 100 during this crash period. Institutional flows, according to reports from financial analysts, reveal hedge funds reducing exposure, with outflows from Bitcoin ETFs exceeding $2 billion in the week prior to February 5, 2026. This ties into broader stock market correlations, where the S&P 500 experienced a 5% dip in tandem, suggesting crypto's growing linkage to traditional finance. For traders, this presents cross-market opportunities; for instance, monitoring Nasdaq futures could provide leading indicators for BTC recoveries, given the tech-heavy index's influence on risk assets. On-chain data further shows a surge in whale transactions, with large holders moving over 100,000 BTC to exchanges, potentially signaling capitulation or accumulation phases.

Looking ahead, trading strategies should focus on volatility indicators like the Bollinger Bands, which have widened significantly for BTC/USD, indicating potential for sharp reversals. Resistance levels to watch include $75,000 and $80,000 for Bitcoin, while Ethereum might find support at $1,900 if selling pressure persists. Broader implications for AI-related tokens, such as those in decentralized computing, could see amplified volatility, as market crashes often hit speculative assets hardest. Traders are advised to use stop-loss orders rigorously, given the $7 billion liquidation precedent, and consider dollar-cost averaging into dips for long-term positions. This event also highlights risks in leveraged trading pairs like BTC/USDT on platforms with high funding rates, where shorts have dominated with volumes up 40% in the last eight days.

Trading Opportunities and Risks in the Wake of the $20,000 Bitcoin Drop

Despite the pain, savvy traders can identify opportunities in this crypto market crash. For example, altcoin pairs like SOL/BTC have shown relative strength, with Solana only down 20% compared to ETH's 32%, suggesting rotation into high-performance networks. On-chain metrics from February 5, 2026, indicate increased DeFi activity, with total value locked dropping 15% but stabilizing, pointing to potential bottom formations. Institutional interest might rebound if macroeconomic factors, such as interest rate decisions, turn favorable, driving inflows back into crypto. However, risks remain high; another wave of liquidations could push Bitcoin below $65,000, based on historical patterns from similar crashes in 2022. Overall, this downturn emphasizes the need for diversified portfolios, incorporating stablecoins and hedging with options on pairs like ETH/USD. As the market digests this $20,000 Bitcoin drop and $1,000 ETH plunge, monitoring real-time volumes and sentiment shifts will be key to capitalizing on any recovery.

Bull Theory

@BullTheoryio

Research, Trades, onchain plays and all other crypto stuff simplified.Publishes institutional-grade cryptocurrency research and blockchain market intelligence. Delivers in-depth analysis of on-chain metrics, tokenomics, and decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystems. Features proprietary data models, investment thesis breakdowns, and macro-level crypto trend forecasts. Provides strategic insights for sophisticated investors navigating digital asset markets. Maintains rigorous methodology in fundamental and technical analysis across crypto assets.