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CryptoMediumUpdated×2•Originally published 21 September 2026•Updated 21 September 2026•
1 min read

Bitcoin Breaks $85,000 as Short Liquidations Hit $648 Million

Key Facts

1Bitcoin climbed to $85,000 on Monday for the first time in eight months.
2The surge follows a volatile period where the cryptocurrency traded below $80,000 last week.

In a move reflecting accelerating momentum in the digital asset market, Bitcoin broke the $85,000 threshold on Monday for the first time in eight months, fueled by a massive wave of short-position liquidations. According to reports, the surge triggered $648 million in forced liquidations, providing the necessary buy-side pressure to clear psychological resistance levels that had capped the currency below $80,000 last week.

This price action is accompanied by a significant buildup in market leverage, with open interest jumping 7.59% to reach a staggering $156 billion. This technical explosion is underpinned by solid institutional fundamentals, as U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs recorded $433 million in inflows last Friday, effectively reversing a trend of net outflows and stabilizing the market's liquidity profile.

As of September 21, 2026, traders are closely monitoring whether Bitcoin can sustain its position above the $85,000 mark following the exhaustion of short-sellers. With no major catalysts listed in the immediate economic calendar, the focus remains on the consistency of ETF inflows and the market's ability to absorb the high level of open interest without triggering a volatile deleveraging event.