Crypto Plunge Triggers $573M Liquidations as Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP Hit Weekly Lows
Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP have fallen to their lowest prices in a week, driven by a broad market sell-off that triggered over $573 million in liquidations across the crypto market within the last 24 hours. The price drop, particularly affecting leveraged traders, comes amid fading hopes for a year-end "Santa rally".
Market Overview
As of Monday, December 15, 2025, the leading cryptocurrencies have experienced significant declines:
Bitcoin (BTC): Fell to a recent price of around $85,833, its lowest since December 1st, and is down more than 3% over the last 24 hours.
Ethereum (ETH): Dropped to a price near $2,955, down more than 4%. It fell below the key $3,000 mark on Monday.
XRP: Declined by approximately 4.5% to about $1.90, also its lowest price so far in December.
The overall cryptocurrency market capitalization has shrunk by roughly 3% over the last 24 hours.
Key Factors and Market Dynamics
Mass Liquidations: The price slide triggered over $573 million in liquidations on Monday, with a vast majority ($486 million) being long positions (bets that prices would rise). This forced selling likely accelerated the market losses. Bitcoin led in liquidations with $205 million, followed by Ethereum at $156 million.
Fading "Santa Rally" Hopes: User sentiment on prediction market platforms has grown increasingly bearish on the prospects of a year-end price rally, reducing the perceived likelihood significantly from a week ago.
Macroeconomic Concerns: Growing concerns about a potential Bank of Japan interest rate hike and a general de-risking environment in broader financial markets have been cited as contributing factors. Cryptocurrencies have recently shown correlation with risk assets like U.S. equities during downturns.
Fear Index: The Crypto Fear & Greed Index indicated "Extreme Fear" among investors, suggesting strong selling pressure and a cautious market environment.
