Crypto Market Plunges as Mt. Gox-Linked Wallet Movements Spark Fears

Traders had previously warned of a bearish market reaction to the impending Mt. Gox bitcoin repayments.

Major Liquidations and Market Downturn

Bullish trades on bitcoin (BTC) and ether (ETH) resulted in over $380 million in losses, with the largest single liquidation order on Binance—a $18.4 million ETH trade. The overall market saw liquidations surpassing $580 million, driven by long positions being forcefully closed.

Sharp Declines Across Major Cryptocurrencies

In the past 24 hours, crypto majors plunged as much as 20%, triggered by movements from a Mt. Gox-linked wallet during early Asian trading hours. This panic led to an average market drop of 10%. Bitcoin (BTC) fell 8%, briefly dipping below $54,000 before a slight recovery, erasing all gains since February. Ether (ETH) dropped over 10%, Solana’s SOL and Cardano’s ADA each fell 8%, and Dogecoin (DOGE) plummeted nearly 18%.

Impact on Open Interest and Market Sentiment

Coinalyze data revealed that open interest, or the number of unsettled futures bets, decreased by 12%, indicating a significant outflow of money from the market. This decline in open interest reflects the heightened uncertainty and fear among traders.

Reasons Behind the Market Turmoil

The sudden market downturn was primarily caused by large movements of BTC to a new wallet by the now-defunct exchange Mt. Gox. These movements were interpreted as preparations for creditor repayments, scheduled to begin this month. The repayments, which include bitcoin and bitcoin cash, have the potential to add substantial selling pressure to the market.

Market Outlook and Predictions

QCP Capital, in a Thursday broadcast on Telegram, projected a challenging third quarter for BTC due to the uncertainty surrounding the Mt. Gox release. They stated, “We anticipate a subdued Q3 for BTC as the market remains uncertain around the supply from the Mt. Gox release.”

Conclusion

The crypto market experienced significant losses, with traders and investors reacting to the looming Mt. Gox bitcoin repayments. As the market grapples with this uncertainty, the outlook for the coming months remains cautious, with the potential for further volatility and bearish trends.