What looked like a normal pullback in the crypto market is evolving into something more structural.
- The crypto market is undergoing a sharp deleveraging cycle.
- Bitcoin is nearing a critical liquidity zone around $93,000.
- ETF flows could become the next major pressure point if weakness continues.
Analysts at Matrixport say that the digital asset space is undergoing a broad “reset” — not because of panic selling, but because leverage is being forced out of the system far faster than new capital can replace it.
Ethereum Futures Reveal the First Red Flag
Instead of watching prices, Matrixport points to derivatives as the key signal. Ethereum futures — often used by traders to amplify exposure — have seen their open interest collapse by roughly half. That scale of reduction usually appears only when leveraged positions are being closed rapidly rather than gradually.
In other words, traders aren’t rotating into safer assets; they are unwinding risk altogether.
Bitcoin’s Next Battle Is About Liquidity, Not Sentiment
Matrixport’s research suggests that Bitcoin is approaching an important inflection point near $93,000. The firm isn’t focused on whether that number represents strong support — the concern is how thin liquidity becomes if the price dips below it. Should buy-side depth dry up, volatility could rise sharply, regardless of market sentiment.
The massive liquidation of long positions that had piled up throughout the fourth quarter helped reduce immediate pressure, but did not eliminate the underlying fragility. The firm notes that leverage had accumulated so aggressively that even large-scale liquidation events may not be enough to stabilize conditions.
ETFs Now Decide What Happens Next
The surprising twist in Matrixport’s assessment is that ETFs — previously the anchor of institutional demand — could become the source of the next liquidity squeeze. If prices continue to drift lower, issuance platforms may be forced to reduce their holdings instead of absorbing supply. That scenario would introduce a new demand shock and intensify the deleveraging cycle.
The firm’s latest outlook isn’t a prediction of disaster — it’s a warning about timing. High leverage paid off during the rally phase, but the environment has flipped. With liquidity becoming more fragile and ETF flows turning into a variable instead of a stabilizer, Matrixport’s takeaway is blunt: those who ignore leverage risk now may find out too late that the market already priced them out.
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Source: https://coindoo.com/bitcoin-nears-liquidity-cliff-as-leverage-unwinds/