Bitcoin traded around $81,500 on Sept. 21, moving in a 24-hour range between $80,126 and $81,849, for an overall swing of about 2.1%. Ether showed stronger momentum, rising to $2,689 with a 24-hour gain of 2.36% after briefly topping $2,707.
According to CoinGlass data cited in the report, total crypto liquidations over the past 24 hours reached $387 million. Short positions accounted for $228 million, while longs made up $158 million. Nearly 120,000 traders were liquidated. The largest single liquidation was a $5.34 million ETHUSDT contract on Binance.
Short liquidations made up nearly 60% of the total
The report said the rebound in Bitcoin and Ether pushed total market liquidations to $387 million over the past day, with about 119,000 accounts affected. By position type, short liquidations came to $228 million and long liquidations totaled $158 million, leaving shorts with close to 60% of the total.
It described the latest move higher as being driven mainly by a short squeeze. The biggest single liquidation was recorded in Binance’s ETHUSDT perpetual contract at $5.34 million.
U.S. stocks closed mixed
On Friday, Sept. 18, the three major U.S. stock indexes ended mixed. The S&P 500 closed at 7,650.50, up 0.17%. The Nasdaq finished at 26,522.58, gaining 0.39% with support from semiconductor shares. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged lower.
The report said risk-asset sentiment remained broadly constructive, though without a clear directional catalyst, and that crypto price action was being shaped more by derivatives positioning and capital flows within the market itself.
SOL and XRP also moved higher
Other major tokens also posted gains. SOL traded at $112.26, up 1.20% over 24 hours, with its 14-day high at $114.02 on Sept. 19. XRP changed hands at $1.4245, up 1.29%, with a 14-day high of $1.477 on Sept. 15.
The report described broader altcoin sentiment as positive, while noting that a market-wide FOMO phase had not yet appeared.
Technical readings stayed relatively firm for BTC and ETH
Bitcoin’s daily candle for Sept. 20 closed at $81,178. Its RSI14 stood at 64.0, placing it in a relatively strong zone. The close remained above the SMA20 at $78,472, the SMA50 at $73,238, and the SMA200 at $70,540, with short-, medium-, and long-term moving averages aligned in a bullish structure.
MACD was still in a bearish arrangement, with DIF below DEA, though the histogram narrowed from the previous day. On Bollinger Bands, the close sat near the upper band at $82,075. The report listed upside resistance at the upper Bollinger Band of $82,075 and the 30-day high of $82,300. Support levels were the SMA20 at $78,472, the lower Bollinger Band at $74,869, and the SMA50 at $73,238.
Ether closed Sept. 20 at $2,645. Its RSI14 came in at 66.1, also in a relatively strong zone. The close stayed above the SMA20 at $2,492, the SMA50 at $2,274, and the SMA200 at $2,077, showing a stable moving-average structure.
Its MACD remained in a bullish arrangement, with DIF above DEA, though the histogram narrowed, which the report said pointed to slowing upside momentum. The close was near the upper Bollinger Band at $2,632. The next resistance level was the 30-day high at $2,668. Support levels were the upper Bollinger Band at $2,632, the SMA20 at $2,492, and the lower Bollinger Band at $2,352.
Fear and Greed Index eased to 70
Data from Alternative.me showed the Fear and Greed Index at 70 on Sept. 21, down slightly from 71 a day earlier but still in the greed zone. Over the past eight days, the index moved between 50 and 71. The report said market sentiment rebounded quickly from 50, or neutral, on Sept. 17 and had since stayed elevated.
It added that near-term changes in derivatives positioning and the market’s response around technical resistance zones would be key in determining whether Bitcoin can break above $82,000.
The report cited Binance, CoinGecko, Alternative.me, and CoinGlass as data sources.