Ethereum (ETH) surged to a fresh all-time high yesterday, smashing past the $4,800 mark and triggering one of the most dramatic liquidation events in recent memory. While the new price milestone made headlines, it was the fallout in leveraged trades—$364 million in total liquidations—that revealed the real impact on traders.

Who Got Hurt...

According to data from Coinglass, approximately $284 million was lost in short positions, while $80 million was wiped out from longs—the heaviest round of liquidations in six months.

Shorts Caught in a Squeeze: In Early, Wrong Prediction...

The largest losses came from traders betting against ETH, and were doing so before before the rally even began, convinced that a pullback was imminent. Others tried to call the top after a brief dip in price, expecting a correction. Both groups were caught flat-footed as Ethereum kept climbing, with their positions forcibly closed as the market moved against them.

Longs Buying the Top: Late To The Party...

Another wave of pain came from traders who joined the rally too late. Seeing ETH surge to new highs, they piled into long positions hoping the momentum would continue. Instead, the climb stalled, prices dipped, and their leveraged longs quickly unraveled—adding $80 million more to the liquidation tally.

The Day Ended Up Setting a Six-Month Record for Liquidations...

While the profits greatly outweighed the losses, it goes to show that anytime there's big movement there's a lot of money goin in either direction.  Many would assume a popular coin gaining a lot of value probably wouldn't trigger the highest liquidation day in 6 months - but it did. There's just so many people in the market now, each with their own thoughts and formulas to predict what's next - so no matter which way a coin goes, there's still going to be a lot of people who were wrong.   

Friday’s chart now shows the biggest single-day sell-off bar for ETH in six months. The spike in liquidations underscores how fast leverage can turn against traders when volatility accelerates.

The ETF Effect and What Comes Next...

Ethereum’s rally is playing out against a very different backdrop than past cycles: spot ETH ETFs are already live in the United States. These funds, launched in July 2024 by major players including Grayscale, Fidelity, iShares, and VanEck, collectively saw more than $1 billion in trading volume on their first day.

With ETFs in the mix, ETH’s price action is no longer just a story of crypto-native speculation. Traditional investors now have a regulated, accessible entry point, and their inflows and outflows are beginning to shape market dynamics.

Looking ahead, several factors will determine whether Ethereum continues its upward trajectory:

ETF Flows – Continued demand through ETFs could provide strong buying pressure, while outflows would apply the opposite effect.

Institutional Adoption – Funds, pensions, and asset managers are now able to allocate to ETH more easily, potentially creating sustained demand.

Network Upgrades – Improvements in Ethereum’s scalability and fee structure could strengthen the long-term bull case.

Macro Trends – As always, ETH remains tied to Bitcoin’s momentum and broader risk sentiment across global markets.

The Takeaway...

I have to be honest - I have no idea why anyone would have been betting big against ETH yesterday, I don't see any indicators telling me that would have been a good idea. So I can't answer why they did it, just how they lost it.

Ethereum’s breakout above $4,800 wasn’t just a milestone—it was a stress test for traders. Shorts betting against the rally lost $284 million, while late longs who bought the top lost another $80 million, bringing the day’s total to $364 million in liquidations.

At the same time, with spot ETFs already in play, Ethereum’s market is entering a new era where traditional financial flows matter just as much as crypto-native trading. If the past week proved anything, it’s that momentum in ETH can turn fast—and when it does, leverage cuts deep.

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Author: Mark Pippen
London Newsroom
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