Bitcoin briefly surged to $90,087 on Coinbase before dropping to around $86,580, highlighting extreme short-term volatility.
Rising positive funding rates on exchanges indicate overcrowded long positions, historically leading to sharp liquidations and price corrections.
Ethereum contrasts with negative funding rates as shorts outweigh longs, signaling weaker bullish momentum ahead of potential altcoin rebounds.
Bitcoin traders are navigating a highly volatile landscape as leveraged positions continue to build, according to on-chain analytics platform Santiment. Bitcoin experienced a dramatic wick, spiking to approximately $90,087 on Coinbase before rapidly retreating to its current levels near $86,580. This flash movement underscores the market’s sensitivity to leverage, with Santiment pointing to aggregated funding rates as a key indicator of impending risks. Funding rates in perpetual futures markets reflect the balance between long and short positions.
Positive rates mean longs pay shorts, typically signaling strong bullish sentiment. However, when rates climb too high, they often indicate overcrowded trades, making the market vulnerable to cascade liquidations on any downside pressure. Santiment’s dashboard reveals Bitcoin’s funding rates have been trending upward, mirroring patterns seen in recent market tops.
Ethereum’s Negative Funding: Quiet Bearishness With Squeeze Potential
Historical data highlighted by Santiment shows clear precedents: massive Bitcoin liquidations about one month ago preceded a significant price correction, while a local top two weeks ago coincided with rising longs. The current surge in positive funding rates suggests similar dynamics are at play, potentially amplifying volatility through forced selling if sentiment shifts. In contrast, Ethereum presents a different picture. Its aggregated funding rates have turned negative recently, with shorts outpacing longs.
Bitcoin saw an enormous jump to ~$90,087 on @coinbase 2 hours ago before quickly sliding back to its current ~$86,580 market value. Bitcoin’s rising positive funding rates on exchanges signals more leveraged long positions, which historically has led to sharp liquidations and… pic.twitter.com/JOmk3eNnCW
— Santiment (@santimentfeed) December 17, 2025
This implies traders are paying to maintain bearish bets, reflecting reduced conviction in ETH’s upside compared to Bitcoin. Santiment notes that while altcoins generally follow Bitcoin’s lead, the dominant crypto’s path to reclaiming $100,000 would likely require funding rates to neutralize or flip negative—effectively washing out excess leverage for a healthier rally.
These metrics serve as a reminder for market participants to monitor perpetual futures data closely. Overleveraged longs have repeatedly fueled sharp pullbacks in 2025’s bull run, and the latest spikes reinforce that volatility remains a core feature of the current cycle. Traders can track Bitcoin and Ethereum’s total aggregated funding rates in real-time via Santiment’s public dashboard for better-informed positioning.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. CoinCryptoNewz is not responsible for any losses incurred. Readers should do their own research before making financial decisions.
<p>The post Bitcoin Warning: Positive Funding Frenzy Hints at Painful Long Squeeze first appeared on Coin Crypto Newz.</p>
