Bitcoin Drops Below $97K, Triggering $1.1 Billion in Liquidations

Image: https://www.gate.com/trade/BTC_USDT

On November 14, 2025, Bitcoin saw a sharp sell-off, breaking through the critical $97,000 psychological level. As of November 17, 2025, BTC briefly fell below $94,000, then rebounded to around $95,000. The market experienced a rapid and significant correction, according to data. At the same time, the derivatives market experienced a massive wave of liquidations, with over $1.1 billion in positions liquidated within 24 hours. This breakdown in support levels combined with a surge in liquidations triggered short-term panic and left many new investors unprepared.

Key Liquidation Data

According to the data:

• Liquidations exceeded $1.1 billion in derivatives contracts, with approximately $969 million from long positions.
• Bitcoin contracts accounted for a significant share of these liquidations.
• Many analysts compared this event to the market stress following the 2022 FTX collapse, noting that investor sentiment neared panic levels.

For newcomers, it’s important to understand that when a large number of leveraged long positions are forcibly liquidated, price declines can accelerate dramatically.

Analysis of the $97K Breakdown

What drove Bitcoin to suddenly break through this key $97K price point? The main factors include:

• Macroeconomic policy shift: Lowered expectations for the Federal Reserve’s next rate cut put pressure on risk assets.
• Loss of key technical support levels: Failure to hold key levels like $100K and $98K triggered panic selling.
• Vulnerability due to high leverage: High ratios of long positions and elevated leverage created a chain reaction of liquidations once prices hit forced closing thresholds.
• Illiquid market conditions: In a low-liquidity environment, large sell orders can quickly drive prices down.

In short, this was not a simple pullback. It was an intense correction driven by multiple converging factors.

Impact on Bitcoin and the Crypto Market

This event produced both wide-ranging and deep impacts:

• Bitcoin’s decline could set off a chain reaction throughout the crypto sector, with many altcoins falling sooner or further.
• As investor risk appetite declined, confidence in leveraged and derivatives trading weakened.
• Long-term investors may take profits. Short-term speculators face heavy losses; this will reshape the market’s liquidity structure going forward.
• This correction serves as a reminder for new investors: although crypto markets offer high returns, they also carry significant risks.

Risks New Investors Should Watch

• Avoid amplifying your risk, as leverage can work against you during a downturn.
• Use stop-losses or diversify: Stay prepared for surprises, even if the trend looks favorable.
• Avoid chasing rallies or panic selling: The $97K breakdown demonstrates how quickly market sentiment can change.
• Monitor the macro environment: Factors like rate cut expectations, liquidity changes, and regulatory moves can all influence prices.
• Remain patient and rational. Volatility is high. Rushing into or out of positions often leads to greater losses.

Outlook: What’s Next for the Market?

Looking ahead, several scenarios could unfold for Bitcoin and the broader crypto market:

• If Bitcoin holds the $95K–$97K range, it could establish a recovery bottom and stage a rebound.
• If support fails again, prices may test the $90K–$92K zone.
• If sentiment deteriorates further, shrinking leverage and capital outflows will make any recovery more challenging.

Overall, this correction could mark the start of a new round of market restructuring. New investors should remain cautious, not panicked.