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$350M in crypto shorts liquidated as Bitcoin rally gains momentum

By Estefano Gomez · Published April 22, 2026 · 2 min read · Source: Crypto Briefing
BitcoinStablecoins

Over $350 million in crypto shorts were liquidated in the past 24 hours, adding momentum to Bitcoin’s recent rally. Bitcoin reaching $80,000 in April sits at 80.5% YES, up from 44% yesterday.

The liquidation wave suggests a short squeeze that could push Bitcoin higher. With ongoing US-Iran tensions and oil prices past $100 per barrel, Bitcoin’s price action is increasingly tied to geopolitical developments. The Bitcoin $80,000 market has $105,235 in actual USDC changing hands daily. The odds are up from 31% last week.

The $150,000 target sits at just 0.1% YES. That sub-market trades only $328 USDC daily, showing limited belief in that kind of move within the timeframe. The gap between the $80,000 and $150,000 targets suggests traders expect a real but bounded rally, not an extreme breakout.

Trading volume tells a different story than face value figures. The $80,000 target has $261,995 in face value, but the real liquidity signal is the $24,792 needed to move the price 5 points, which points to institutional-level interest. The largest recent move was a 5-point spike at 8:48 AM, right after the short liquidation news broke.

Bitcoin’s sensitivity to macroeconomic and geopolitical factors is on full display, with traders watching for a breakout amid ongoing Middle East hostilities. At 80.5% YES, buying a share at 80¢ pays $1 if Bitcoin hits $80,000, for a 1.25x return. That bet requires the geopolitical climate to keep fueling bullish sentiment.

Watch for statements from BlackRock and MicroStrategy, and for US-Iran developments, which could move Bitcoin’s price from here.

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Term Structure
Contract Odds Δ since publish Volume 24h
$80,000 80.5% Trade →
$150,000 0.1% Trade →
Related to This Story Bitcoin hits $75K as institutional demand, spot ETFs drive rally
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