The long-awaited moment has arrived: bitcoin smashes its previous records. After months of the crypto market simmering, the breakout is here. But what triggered this surge? Is it an institutional inflow, a technical movement, or a simple domino effect on market psychology? Today, every transaction, every tweet, every liquidity counts. We will dissect this unprecedented phenomenon, understand its drivers, and assess the risks.
In brief
- •Bitcoin has surpassed 125,000 dollars for the first time, setting a new historical record.
- •More than 220 million dollars of short positions have been liquidated in less than 24 hours.
- •The balance of bitcoins on exchanges hits a historical low: 2.83 million BTC available.
- •Analysts mention a potential BTC shortage if buying pressure remains this intense.
Bitcoin Meteorite: drivers, liquidations, and macro strategy
Just two days ago, bitcoin was flirting with $120,000 and some were already betting on a quick pullback. Yet bitcoin charged to new heights, crossing the legendary 125,000$ mark, surprising many. This surge draws its strength from an explosive mix: massive short position liquidations, ETF inflows, and a favorable macro context. Within 24 hours, more than 200 million dollars of shorts were liquidated, turning forced sellers into buyers.
The global context remains bullish, a prolonged government shutdown should continue to stimulate interest in tangible assets and support demand for Bitcoin as an alternative store of value.
Some analysts are already aiming for levels of 135,000$ or even 200,000$. Geoff Kendrick (Standard Chartered) is in this optimistic camp. We are also seeing a scarcity of available BTC: according to Glassnode, exchange balances drop to a six-year low, increasing buying pressure.
Towards a crypto shortage? Scenarios, signals and alternatives
The bitcoin surge is accompanied by a warning: supply might dry up. Matthew Sigel (VanEck) states that platforms “are running out of bitcoin” and predicts a shortage starting as soon as the next day if this continues. Mike Alfred reports that an OTC desk claims that exchanges could lack BTC at market open unless there is a new price increase.
Meanwhile, altcoins lag behind. Ethereum tests its levels but struggles to keep up. Solana struggles. This contrast highlights a risk: the BTC bubble might remain isolated. The trader Rekt Capital tweets: “If Bitcoin manages to convincingly surpass 126,500 dollars, there is a high chance its price will climb much higher, and quickly“. This threshold has become a psychological marker.
Key figures to remember
- •BTC price ~ $123,389 at time of writing;
- •Total liquidations: ~ $345 million in 24 hours;
- •Shorts liquidated: ~ $220 million;
- •BTC on exchanges: 2.83 million BTC;
- •Weekly bitcoin increase: +14%.
These data show that the surge is not only based on euphoria. It is fueled by a confluence of structural mechanisms: scarcity, institutional demand, and cascade effect of stops.
If the momentum holds, the crypto market could enter a new phase. But everything can change if liquidity is lacking or if speculators take profits too early.
As Bitcoin breaks its records, all eyes turn to altcoins. BNB did not wait: it recently broke $1,111, showing a remarkable “quadruple 1,” driven by investor enthusiasm. Proof that in the crypto market, action never sleeps—even if the king dominates.