Home
/
News
/
Breaking news
/

Crypto shock: $20 billion lost in one day! who survived?

Crypto Crisis | $20 Billion Wiped Out in 24 Hours!

By

Lina Bowers

Mar 25, 2026, 03:27 PM

Updated

Mar 26, 2026, 03:27 AM

2 minutes to read

Graph showing a sharp decline in cryptocurrency market value after tariff announcement

On October 10, 2025, President Donald Trump’s startling decision to impose 100% tariffs on Chinese imports sparked a catastrophic sell-off in the crypto markets, leading to a staggering $20 billion loss in market value within a single day.

Market Shockwaves: Liquidations Everywhere

In less than 24 hours, Bitcoin dropped over 14%, falling below $110,000, while Ethereum dropped around 12%. Many altcoins witnessed declines between 30-70%, triggering over 1.6 million trading accounts being liquidated, marking the largest liquidation event in crypto history. One commenter remarked, "It’s wild to see how quickly confidence can evaporate."

How Major Protocols Endured the Crash

The sudden market collapse forced every lending and trading platform to prove their resilience. Here’s how the leading protocols performed:

  • Aave: ~0.9% liquidation intensity on a $190 million loan book.

  • Kamino: 1.1% intensity, reflecting $20 million in liquidations.

  • dYdX: A notable ~14% liquidation intensity on $168 million.

  • Nolus: Impressive ~10.5% with only $275K impacted.

  • Hyperliquid: Experienced up to 90% liquidation but primarily due to high position churn, not collapse.

"Protocols like Nolus show that thoughtful design can mitigate the worst outcomes," said one analyst.

Nolus: A Model of Resilience

Nolus exhibited several innovative features that shielded it from the market turmoil:

  1. Partial Liquidations: Only the riskiest segments of accounts were hit, allowing 5.6% of positions to remain intact.

  2. EMA-Based Oracle Pricing: This feature helped smooth out volatility spikes to avoid panic liquidations.

  3. Market Anomaly Guard (MAG): Protected approximately $610K from forced sales during dramatic price drops.

The net effect? Nolus reported zero bad debt and managed a controlled liquidation process.

What’s Next for Crypto?

The aftermath of this massive financial shock has ignited discussions about future regulatory measures and improvements in trading practices. Many experts predict there's an 80% chance of new regulations emerging to enhance consumer protections and impose stricter oversight on risky trading activities.

Curiously, the crypto landscape may undergo a seismic shift in compliance-driven protocols over the next 12-18 months.

Insights from the Community

Interest in community roles and job opportunities was hinted at in user comments: "How do I apply for a shill position and what is the hourly rate?" This reflects a desire from some to align with successful protocols.

Interestingly, a user remarked, "Shilling cosmos stuff takes balls, I must say! lol," suggesting a mixed sentiment about investment risks and engagements.

Key Takeaways: Market Reaction and Community Sentiment

  • ⭐ Surprising: Over 1.6 million trading accounts were liquidated in a single day.

  • β–½ Insider chatter hints at new job opportunities in crypto shilling.

  • βœ“ Effective measures: "Good protocols have features like MAG to protect users," echoed in community remarks.

As the dust settles, one pressing question remains: How will key players adapt to prevent future market shocks? The crypto community continues to watch closely for developments.