CRASH ALERT: Bitcoin Falls Below $80K
January 31, 2026 -- BTC crashed to $78,212, down 38% from ATH. Total market cap fell $197B in 24h. Fear & Greed Index at 16 (Extreme Fear). Worst month since 2018.
January 2026 Bitcoin Crash: BTC Below $80K
Bitcoin suffered its worst month since 2018, crashing from $95K to $78,212 -- a 38% decline from the October 2025 ATH of $126,210. Five converging triggers created a perfect storm: the Warsh Fed Chair nomination, Iran geopolitical crisis, US government shutdown, massive ETF outflows, and long-term holder distribution. Here's the complete analysis.
January 2026 Summary
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5 Triggers Behind the Crash
Kevin Warsh Fed Chair Nomination
Trump nominated inflation hawk Kevin Warsh to replace Jerome Powell. Markets immediately priced in hawkish monetary policy -- tighter liquidity, stronger dollar, smaller Fed balance sheet. Risk assets sold off across the board.
Iran Bandar Abbas Explosion
A major explosion at Iran's Bandar Abbas port city escalated geopolitical tensions with the US and Israel. Strait of Hormuz concerns spiked. Investors fled risk assets for safe havens, accelerating the crypto sell-off.
US Government Partial Shutdown
Lawmakers missed the midnight funding deadline on January 31. SEC operating with "very limited staff." Treasury General Account rebuild drains liquidity from markets, compounding sell pressure.
Bitcoin ETF Massive Outflows
$818M single-day outflow on Jan 29 -- the worst since November 20. January total: -$1.61B net outflows. Weekly outflows hit $1.7B. Institutional investors tactically rotated out of crypto.
Long-Term Holder & Miner Selling
Long-term holders sold 143,000 BTC ($9.5B) in 30 days. Miners consistently sending coins to exchanges. Structural sell pressure overwhelmed weakening demand.
Liquidation Dashboard
January 30, 2026
January 31, 2026
Long Liquidations
BTC longs: $745.3M | ETH longs: $390.5M
Short Liquidations
Shorts barely touched -- bears dominated
Altcoin Damage Report
| Asset | Price | Change | Liquidated |
|---|---|---|---|
Bitcoin (BTC) | $78,212 | -20% | $768.69M |
Ethereum (ETH) | $2,395 | -12% | $417.43M |
Solana (SOL) | $103.44 | -11% | Heavy losses |
XRP | $1.56 | -11% | Significant |
BNB | $779.57 | -8% | Moderate |
Tokenized Silver | Crashed | -31% | $142M * |
* Tokenized silver futures led Jan 31 liquidations -- more than BTC's $82M that day.
$197 Billion Wiped in 24 Hours
Total crypto market cap fell from $2.93 trillion to $2.73 trillion on January 31 -- a 6% decline in a single day. This was the 4th consecutive monthly loss for Bitcoin, a streak not seen since the 2018 crypto winter. The Fear & Greed Index plunged to 16 (Extreme Fear), its lowest reading since the FTX collapse in November 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions
Important Risk Warning
- •Cryptocurrency markets are experiencing extreme volatility. Bitcoin fell 38% from its ATH in just 3 months.
- •$2.24 billion in crypto was liquidated in 2 days (Jan 30-31). Leverage amplifies losses dramatically.
- •Further downside is possible. Multiple analysts predict BTC could fall to $60K-$70K before recovering.
- •Geopolitical events (Iran), monetary policy (Warsh), and government shutdowns create ongoing uncertainty.
- •Always use stop-loss orders and isolated margin. Never risk more than 1-2% of your account on a single trade.
- •This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.
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This article is for informational and educational purposes only. Trading futures involves substantial risk of loss. The information provided does not constitute investment advice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Always conduct your own research before trading. Crypto markets experienced $2.24 billion in liquidations on January 30-31, 2026. Bitcoin fell 38% from its all-time high. Further declines are possible. Never invest more than you can afford to lose.