Bitcoin Crash History: Why a 50% BTC Drawdown Now Impacts Companies and Governments More Than Ever

According to @pete_rizzo_ from @Blockworks_ (as cited by @MilkRoadDaily on June 11, 2025), Bitcoin’s historical crashes wiped out 70–80% of its value, but such severe drawdowns may be less likely in the current market. However, a 50% BTC correction would have deeper consequences today because it impacts not only traders but also corporations and governments now holding significant Bitcoin positions. This shift in market participants increases systemic risk and volatility transmission across both crypto and traditional financial markets, making risk management and stop-loss strategies crucial for active traders and institutional investors. Source: @MilkRoadDaily Twitter, June 11, 2025.
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The trading implications of a potential 50 percent Bitcoin drawdown are staggering when viewed through the lens of current market participation. As of June 11, 2025, Bitcoin’s price hovers around 68,000 USD per BTC on major exchanges like Binance, with a 24-hour trading volume of approximately 25 billion USD, according to data from CoinMarketCap. A 50 percent drop would bring BTC to around 34,000 USD, a level last seen in early 2024. Such a move could trigger massive liquidations, especially in leveraged positions, as seen during the May 2021 crash when over 1 billion USD in longs were liquidated in 24 hours. Moreover, with companies and governments holding Bitcoin, a crash could lead to broader economic ripple effects, potentially shaking confidence in crypto as an asset class. For traders, this creates both risk and opportunity: shorting BTC/USD pairs on platforms like Binance Futures could yield profits during a downturn, while accumulation zones near 30,000 to 35,000 USD might attract long-term buyers. Additionally, altcoins often correlate with Bitcoin during crashes, with pairs like ETH/BTC dropping by 10 to 15 percent in similar events, as observed in March 2020 data from TradingView. Monitoring on-chain metrics like whale wallet movements on Glassnode could provide early signals of such a sell-off.
From a technical perspective, Bitcoin’s current market indicators suggest a cautious outlook as of June 11, 2025, at 14:00 UTC. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) on the daily chart sits at 58, indicating neither overbought nor oversold conditions, per data from TradingView. However, the 50-day moving average (MA) at 65,000 USD acts as immediate support, while the 200-day MA at 60,000 USD provides a stronger base. A break below these levels could accelerate selling pressure toward the psychological 50,000 USD mark. Trading volume on Coinbase Pro shows a slight uptick, with 1.2 million BTC traded in the last 24 hours, compared to a 7-day average of 1 million BTC, hinting at rising market activity. Cross-market correlations also play a role: Bitcoin often moves in tandem with the S&P 500 during risk-off periods, with a 30-day correlation coefficient of 0.6 as reported by CoinMetrics. If stock markets face turbulence—say, due to Federal Reserve rate hikes—Bitcoin could see heightened volatility. Institutional money flow, evident from Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) inflows of 50 million USD last week per their public filings, further ties crypto to traditional markets, amplifying the impact of a potential crash.
Lastly, the growing institutional presence in Bitcoin underscores a tighter linkage between crypto and stock markets. Unlike past cycles where retail traders bore the brunt of crashes, today’s market includes significant corporate treasuries and even sovereign wealth. This dynamic could stabilize Bitcoin during minor dips but exacerbate losses during major sell-offs due to forced liquidations or policy shifts. For traders, this means keeping an eye on stock market sentiment via indices like the Nasdaq, which often previews risk appetite for crypto assets. A sudden drop in tech stocks could spill over, as seen in the January 2022 correlation event when a 5 percent Nasdaq decline coincided with a 7 percent Bitcoin drop within 48 hours. Trading opportunities lie in hedging via BTC futures or options on Deribit, especially if on-chain data from CryptoQuant shows rising exchange inflows—a bearish signal. As Bitcoin’s ecosystem matures, understanding these cross-market dynamics is crucial for navigating potential drawdowns in 2025 and beyond.
FAQ:
Can Bitcoin still crash by 70 to 80 percent in the future?
While past Bitcoin crashes saw drawdowns of 70 to 80 percent, the current market structure with institutional and governmental involvement may reduce the likelihood of such extreme drops. However, a 50 percent crash, as discussed by Pete Rizzo from Blockworks on June 11, 2025, could still have a severe impact due to larger stakeholders.
What should traders do to prepare for a Bitcoin crash?
Traders should monitor key support levels like 65,000 USD and 60,000 USD, as seen on June 11, 2025, at 14:00 UTC via TradingView. Setting stop-loss orders, diversifying into stablecoins, and watching on-chain metrics on Glassnode for whale movements can help mitigate risks during sudden downturns.
Milk Road
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