Published & Updated: January 19, 2026 23:45 JST | Tapbit Macro & Liquidation Alert
Bitcoin fell sharply below the $90,000 psychological level during Asian trading hours on Monday, January 21, 2026, dropping as much as 1.26% to around $89,425 at the lowest point. The move was directly triggered by President Donald Trump’s renewed threat to impose 10% tariffs on goods from eight NATO European nations — Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Finland — effective February 1, 2026 (with automatic escalation to 25% by June 1 unless the U.S. gains control of Greenland). The announcement sparked immediate risk-off flows, resulting in total crypto long liquidations exceeding $525 million within 24 hours (CoinGlass data), with longs accounting for ~79% of the wipeout across major exchanges including Bybit, Binance, Hyperliquid, and OKX.
January 19, 2026 Bitcoin & Market Liquidation Snapshot
| Asset / Category | 24h Low | 24h Change | Liquidated Amount | Longs % | Key Level Tested |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin (BTC) | $89,425 | –1.26% | $210M – $280M | 81% | $90,000 psychological level broken |
| Ethereum (ETH) | $3,185 – $3,210 | –3.8% to –4.4% | $105M – $130M | 77% | $3,300 psychological level lost |
| Altcoins (aggregate) | — | –4% to –11% | $300M+ | 78% | GameFi sector –9–16% |
| Total Market | — | –3.2% avg | $525M – $680M | 79% | Fear & Greed Index → 41 (Extreme Fear) |
Trump’s 10% Tariff Threat on 8 European NATO Nations – Timeline & Details
- Announcement Time: January 19, 2026 (late US time / Truth Social post)
- Base Tariff Rate: 10% on all goods from the 8 listed countries
- Effective Date: February 1, 2026
- Escalation Clause: Automatic increase to 25% on June 1, 2026 unless Greenland sovereignty is transferred to the U.S.
- Targeted Nations (all NATO members): Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Finland
- Stated Reason: “Unfair trade practices + failure to cede strategic Arctic territory (Greenland)”
Why This Tariff Announcement Triggered a $525M+ Liquidation Cascade
- Geopolitical Shock & Trade-War Escalation
Direct tariffs on NATO allies + territorial ultimatum (Greenland) is extremely unusual → markets interpreted it as a serious risk of broader U.S.–EU conflict. - Technical Breakdown Confirmation
BTC clean loss of $92,500 weekly support → automated stop-loss & margin call cascade - Very High Leverage Overhang
75–80% of liquidated positions were longs, many using 50–150× leverage on major exchanges - Global Risk-Off Cascade
US equity futures –0.8–1.2%, European Stoxx 600 –1.2%, gold +1.4%, DXY +0.7%
Technical Levels After the Drop – BTC & ETH
Bitcoin (BTC) – Current ~$91,200–$91,900
- Immediate Support: $90,800–$91,200 (next major liquidation cluster)
- Critical Structural Support: $88,500–$90,000 (200-day EMA + prior base)
- Resistance: $93,500 (failed breakdown level) → $95,000
- RSI (4h): 38 → approaching oversold (bounce signal developing)
Ethereum (ETH) – Current ~$3,210–$3,240
- Critical Support: $3,139 (50-day EMA) – major battle zone
- Next Support: $3,050–$3,000
- Resistance: $3,300 (recent breakdown) → $3,380
How Tapbit Traders Can Navigate This Tariff-Driven Volatility
- Create your Tapbit account (0% maker fees)
- Deposit USDT via P2P or card
- Spot dip buying: Limit orders at BTC $91,000–$91,500 / ETH $3,150–$3,180
- Futures protection: Short BTC/ETH on failed reclaim of $93,500 / $3,320 (isolated margin, 1–2% risk)
- Volatility play: Use Tapbit 125x perpetuals for quick scalps around liquidation clusters
- Safety first: Isolated margin + tight stops; never exceed 1% account risk per trade
Conclusion
Bitcoin’s 3.6% drop below $92,000 and Ethereum’s slide under $3,300 on January 19, 2026 were directly triggered by President Trump’s 10% tariff threat (escalating to 25%) on eight European NATO nations — explicitly tied to Greenland sovereignty demands. The resulting $525M+ liquidation cascade (79% longs) highlights how quickly geopolitical shocks can trigger leveraged wipeouts in crypto. While short-term fear dominates, historical patterns show such capitulation phases often precede strong rebounds — especially when institutional flows remain supportive on longer timeframes. Traders should prioritize capital preservation and wait for confirmed structure before aggressive positioning.
Trade tariff volatility & BTC/ETH dips on Tapbit:
- Sign Up on Tapbit (0% spot trading fees)
- Login & Deposit
- Live BTC, ETH & Futures Prices
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment or trading advice. Cryptocurrency and traditional markets are highly volatile and subject to geopolitical events. Always conduct your own research and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
