Bitcoin slips after FOMC; $4.5B liquidations, ETF inflows support
Bitcoin (BTC) fell from around $79,500 into the FOMC backdrop, triggering roughly $4.5B in crypto liquidations. The move matches a repeated setup: BTC often strengthens before FOMC, then unwinds quickly after the decision as liquidity and leverage conditions shift.
Mechanically, derivatives de-risking was sharp. Futures open interest reportedly dropped from about $61B to $49B in a week, while BTC derivatives liquidations were estimated near $2.5B and total crypto liquidations around $4.5B. Analyst Michael van de Poppe said these pre-event corrections commonly reflect policy uncertainty.
Traders are watching key levels. The article flags ~$73,000 as the near-term line in the sand and points to ~$70,000 support. The higher range can hold if BTC keeps above ~$73,000 and liquidation pressure fades.
Offsetting the macro risk, spot Bitcoin ETF flows reportedly turned positive again, with about $3.5B in net inflows over two months. Corporate accumulation also remains supportive: Strategy increased BTC holdings to 818,334 BTC in 2026 (from 672,497 on Jan. 1). For trading, this combination suggests volatility stays elevated, but ETF demand may cushion downside and help BTC recover more resiliently if leverage flushes out.
Neutral
BTC’s short-term downside pressure looks real: the selloff coincided with a clear derivatives de-risking cycle (open interest drop) and large liquidation totals (~$4.5B). That typically keeps volatility elevated into/just after the central-bank decision, making it harder for dips to be immediately bought.
However, both summaries highlight stabilizers. Spot Bitcoin ETF flows reportedly returned to net inflows (~$3.5B over two months), and Strategy’s continued BTC accumulation adds a steadier bid. The article also frames $73,000 (then ~$70,000) as a key support zone—so if liquidation pressure fades quickly, the market can recover without breaking the broader structure.
Net: bearish catalysts for the immediate tape, but institutional demand signals reduce the odds of a sustained crash, keeping the overall price outlook for BTC more balanced than one-sided.