Bitcoin slips under $80,000 as crypto liquidations mount

Bitcoin dropped below $80,000 to about $79,750, its lowest in nine days, dragging major cryptocurrencies lower. Middle East geopolitical tensions added to pressure from liquidations, institutional outflows, and thin weekend liquidity. Roughly $670 million in crypto positions were liquidated in 24 hours, affecting more than 213,000 traders.

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Bitcoin fell to roughly $79,750, its weakest level in nine days, after nearing $85,000 on Wednesday and then losing more than $5,000. This was its second drop below $80,000 in about ten days. Ether slipped under $2,350, XRP below $1.30, and Solana below $100 for the first time since early September.

In 24 hours, about $670 million in crypto positions were liquidated, affecting over 213,000 traders; roughly $220 million of longs vanished within hours. Smaller tokens fell harder, including NE