Bitcoin Slips to $82K as Liquidations Spike to $1.7B

Crypto market selloff triggered by policy shifts, geopolitical tensions

Jan. 29, 2026 at 10:55pm

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Bitcoin has hit a nine-month low of $82,134 amid escalating policy shifts, including President Trump's Friday Fed Chair announcement. A flurry of macroeconomic and geopolitical developments triggered a broad-based selloff across global financial markets on Thursday, resulting in $1.68 billion in liquidated crypto positions.

Why it matters

The drop in Bitcoin price and spike in liquidations reflect the market's sensitivity to policy changes and geopolitical tensions. As a leading cryptocurrency, Bitcoin's performance is closely watched as an indicator of broader crypto market sentiment and health.

The details

Bitcoin shed 7.4% over 24 hours, hitting a low of $82,134 before a slight Friday morning recovery. The total crypto market capitalization declined by 6.7%. Policy shifts in Washington, including President Trump's announcement that he would reveal his next Federal Reserve Chairman nominee, played a central role in the correction. Market participants expect the next Fed chair to be Kevin Warsh, a long-time critic of quantitative easing, which is seen as bearish for Bitcoin in the short term. Trump's executive order on Thursday declaring a national emergency over Cuba oil sales, combined with concerns over a potential U.S. intervention in Iran, also triggered a flight to safety in crypto and equity markets.

  • On Thursday, Bitcoin hit a low of $82,134.
  • On Friday morning, Bitcoin saw a slight recovery.

The players

Donald Trump

The President of the United States who announced he would reveal his next Federal Reserve Chairman nominee on Friday.

Kevin Warsh

A former Federal Reserve Governor who reportedly 'impressed' President Trump and is expected to be nominated as the next Fed Chair.

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What they’re saying

“Market participants expect the next chair to be Kevin Warsh, a long-time critic of quantitative easing and presumed inflation hawk. This is bearish for Bitcoin in the short term.”

— Lai Yuen, Investment analyst at Fisher8 Capital (Decrypt)

“All in all, I expect a painful start to February.”

— Sean Dawson, Head of research at the on-chain options platform Derive (Decrypt)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.