Crypto Bear Market Confirmed as Forced Deleveraging Wipes Out Trillions in Value

Forced deleveraging, not narratives, drove the sell-off as liquidations, ETF outflows, and macro stress hit crypto markets.

The crypto market appears to have entered a confirmed bear phase after Bitcoin fell nearly 50% from recent all-time highs. And off the back of this downturn, trillions of dollars in total market value have disappeared in a sharp and fast-moving sell-off.

According to market analyst Ted Pillows, forced selling linked to excessive leverage played a central role in the downturn. Although other factors contributed to the subsequent market pressures, leverage remained the primary trigger.

Forced Selling Pressures Bitcoin as Liquidity Crunch Hits Crypto Markets

Pillows said aggressive deleveraging set off liquidation cascades across futures and options markets. Bitcoin futures recorded their largest long-liquidation spike of the drawdown as prices slipped into the low $70,000 range. 

As per CoinGlass data, intraday crypto liquidation totaled $1 billio, with long positions accounting for most losses. Reports revealed that once forced selling began, price action focused on finding liquidity rather than responding to narratives.

Capital.com senior analyst Kyle Rodda said Bitcoin’s decline reflected broader deleveraging across risk assets. Stocks, commodities, and crypto all fell at the same time as market volatility increased.

According to the analyst, weak performance by Bitcoin-linked investment vehicles also dampened sentiment. Market reporter James Seyffart said ETF holders now face their largest losses since products launched in January 2024. Between February 2 and 5, BTC investment funds lost approximately $1.25 billion. 

Macroeconomic conditions added another layer of stress faced by the crypto market. Pillows mentioned that “ high interest rates and sticky inflation pushed markets into risk-off mode.”

As per market data, U.S. inflation remains above target, with CPI holding near 2.7%. “Liberation Day” tariffs reshaped supply chains but kept goods prices elevated. While services inflation cooled, imported materials stayed expensive, limiting room for policy easing.

Market Stress Deepens as Long-Term Holders Cut Exposure

The market commentator pointed to Bitcoin’s inability to act as a safe-haven asset. Pillows said price action lagged traditional hedges such as gold, weakening confidence in the “digital gold” narrative. 

Basically, corporate BTC holders, including leveraged firms, sold the asset to meet margin calls. And this trend further added pressure to the market. At the same time, yen carry trades collapsed as Hong Kong hedge fund traders faced losses. A negative Coinbase premium further reinforced the ongoing sell-off by U.S. institutions.

Meanwhile, Pillows suggested “whale transfers and large outflows” have further strained the market. According to Ali Martinez, long-term holders have redistributed 96,000 BTC ($7.68 billion) in the past seven days. 

Since long-term holders are seen as stable investors, such a move indicates market caution. Meanwhile, profit-taking also increased after Bitcoin’s sharp 2025 rally peaked near $126,000.

Essentially, Pillows opined that forced deleveraging remained the core driver of the market’s southbound movement. Once leverage broke, ETF outflows, whale selling, and weakness in tech stocks intensified the decline. During periods of deleveraging, price action is driven by liquidity needs rather than market narratives