Bitcoin held near $91,000 on Black Friday as U.S. stocks and gold pushed higher, even while the total crypto market value slipped 0.5% to $3.19 trillion, according to Coingecko. The move suggests crypto is catching its breath after a strong week.
Over the last 24 hours, Bitcoin was flat after hitting an intraday high of $92,800. Ethereum (ETH) rose 0.5%, Solana (SOL) fell 3.5%, and XRP slid 1.9% to $2.19. In a sign of choppy trading, about 111,000 leveraged traders were liquidated in the past day, wiping out $289 million in positions, per CoinGlass. Bitcoin-linked liquidations totaled $89 million and Ether accounted for $61 million. A liquidation happens when an exchange forces a trade to close because a leveraged bet moves too far against the trader.
Winners and laggards among top coins
Altcoins were split. Quant (QNT) led large-cap gainers with a 10% jump, while Bitcoin Cash (BCH) and Monero (XMR) added 3% and 2%, respectively. On the downside, Pi Network (PI), Zcash (ZEC), and Aptos (APT) posted the day's steepest declines. This kind of dispersion often shows traders rotating between narratives rather than buying the whole market at once.
The quick read: key stats
- Total crypto market cap: $3.19 trillion (-0.5% daily).
- Bitcoin: flat on the day after peaking at $92,800; hovering near $91,000.
- Liquidations: 111,000 traders, $289 million in 24 hours (CoinGlass).
- Breakdown: $89 million tied to Bitcoin positions; $61 million tied to Ether.
Macro backdrop: risk and safety rally together
U.S. equities rose into the holiday weekend, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq each up 0.5%. Gold traded above $4200/oz for the first time in two weeks. Seeing risk assets and a traditional safe haven climb at the same time can signal investors are hedging — keeping exposure to growth while protecting against shocks.
Why this matters
- Bitcoin stability near $91,000 may encourage range trading as the market resets after a rally.
- A $289 million leverage shakeout can reduce forced selling, often making price moves cleaner in the short term.
- Mixed altcoin action points to selective risk-taking, where traders pick specific themes rather than broad risk-on bets.
What to watch next
Weekend trading can be thin, which sometimes amplifies price swings. Keep an eye on Bitcoin's $90,000 area as near-term support and whether bulls try to revisit the $92,800 intraday high. Traders will also watch if ETH holds its slight lead, whether SOL stabilizes after its drop, and how U.S. markets reopen after the holiday.
For newer investors: market capitalization is the total value of all coins in circulation, and leverage means borrowing funds to make a bigger trade. Both can exaggerate moves — up and down — so position sizing and risk controls matter.