In a dramatic turn of events, the crypto world has been rocked by the recent upheaval at Binance, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges globally. The departure of CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao and the ensuing legal developments have sent shockwaves through the market, culminating in a staggering liquidation of nearly $175 million in crypto long positions.
The Ripple Effect of Binance’s Latest Developments
The crypto community was taken aback as news broke out about CZ’s decision to plead guilty to violating Anti-Money Laundering requirements, leading to his resignation as Binance’s CEO. This development, coupled with the U.S. Department of Justice’s announcement of a hefty $4.3 billion settlement with Binance, has caused significant market turbulence.
Market Liquidation: A Deep Dive into the Numbers
The impact of these events on the crypto market has been profound. According to CoinGlass, a crypto derivatives data platform, the market witnessed the liquidation of $175 million worth of crypto longs in just 24 hours. In contrast, $51 million in short positions were also purged. This massive liquidation affected 92,742 traders, with the largest single order, worth approximately $2.35 million, occurring on the BTCUSD pair on the Bybit exchange.
Binance’s Asset Flow and BNB’s Volatile Journey
The turmoil at Binance has not only affected market positions but also the flow of assets within the exchange. Data from DefiLlama indicates a significant drop in asset inflows to Binance, exceeding $1 billion in the last 24 hours. This suggests a cautious approach by traders in depositing their assets into the exchange amidst the ongoing uncertainty.
Interestingly, Binance’s native token, BNB, experienced a brief rally, reaching a five-month high of $271.9 before plummeting back to $234 following the news of the DoJ settlement. This erratic movement highlights the market’s sensitivity to the unfolding events at Binance.