Bitcoin Breaks $75,500 as Analysts Warn Short Squeeze May Be Overblown

Bitcoin Market News

Bitcoin (BTC) crossed $75,500 on Aug. 20, its highest price in more than three months, after a series of macroeconomic and regulatory developments triggered a wave of short liquidations across the crypto market. The price move came after the US Treasury Department announced it would at least double the size of its liquidity support buyback operations for longer-dated nominal coupon securities across the 10- to 30-year segment.

Two additional catalysts accompanied the Treasury announcement: the SEC released a new crypto proposal, and President Donald Trump met with prominent crypto executives at the White House. BTC was trading at $75,560, up more than 8.9% over the prior 24 hours.

Billions in Shorts Wiped Out

The surge on Aug. 19 liquidated more than $2.75 billion in Bitcoin short positions. In the following 24 hours, an additional $783.2 million in BTC positions were liquidated, with $747.7 million of that coming from short positions

Shawn Young, chief analyst at MEXC Research, said the market has assigned too much weight to the Treasury’s action. “Crypto is giving the Treasury’s intervention far more credit than it deserves,” Young said. “The Treasury opened a pressure valve, and crypto priced it like a regime change. The bond move forced shorts out faster than it improved bitcoin’s macro case.” Young said the intensity of the short squeeze reflects how one-sided market positioning already was before the Treasury news, and that Treasuries remain competitive for the marginal capital BTC needs. “Bitcoin’s push above $70,000 looks premature to me,” he added.

Related Article: Bitcoin Eyes $180K as Treasury Buybacks Ease Key Macro Headwind 

Analysts Watch for Real Demand to Follow

Dominick John, analyst at Zeus Research, said the liquidation of short positions will keep prices elevated in the near term, but thatare cleared, he said, the rally must be sustained by real spot demand, liquidity, and macro fundamentals. “The real test now is to see if fresh capital steps in and turns a short squeeze into a sustained move,” John said

John said the longer-term picture for the crypto market remains constructive, pointing to the potential passage of the CLARITY Act in September as a factor that could extend the rally beyond the short squeeze. He cited improving sentiment and tighter supply as indicators of a broader recovery. “The broader crypto market is shaking off its summer apathy, with the Bitcoin Fear & Greed Index back in Greed territory as risk appetite returns,” he said.

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Source: coinmarketcap.com