Why is crypto crashing today?

Tatevik Avetisyan
By Tatevik Avetisyan 4 Min Read

On June 6, the crypto market crash wiped out $95 billion from total market value. The global market cap dropped 3.03%, falling to $3.2 trillion, according to CoinMarketCap. During the decline, the Bitcoin price dropped to $101,928.79, while Ethereum fell 3.73% to $2,489. XRP also declined, losing 3.34% to reach $2.13.

Crypto Liquidation Heatmap – 24hSource: Coinglass.com
  Crypto Liquidation Heatmap – 24h. Source: Coinglass.com

According to Coinglass, crypto liquidations in the last 24 hours surpassed $595 million. Over 156,000 traders were liquidated during the period. The largest single liquidation came from a Binance ETH/USDT trade worth $9.48 million.

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Among top assets, Bitcoin accounted for $171 million in total liquidations, followed by Ethereum liquidation at $143 million. XRP liquidations stood at $16.6 million, while Solana and Dogecoin faced liquidations of $40 million and $22.52 million, respectively.

Out of the total, $547 million came from long positions, while short trades made up $50.08 million. This imbalance indicates a significant long squeeze. The sharp forced exits pushed Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP closer to critical support zones during the crypto market crash, reflecting rapid de-risking across major assets.

Trump–Musk Crypto Clash Triggers Sell Pressure

The Trump Musk crypto conflict intensified on June 5. Tesla CEO Elon Musk posted on X:

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“Call your Senator. Call your Congressman, Bankrupting America is NOT ok! KILL the BILL.”

Musk urged lawmakers to reject a proposed budget bill. Later that day, U.S. President Donald Trump responded on Truth Social, saying:

“Ending Elon Musk’s federal support would save billions and billions.”

Trump–Musk Government Contract Fallout StatementSource: X (@elonmusk, @realDonaldTrump)
Trump–Musk Government Contract Fallout Statement. Source: X (@elonmusk, @realDonaldTrump)

The Tesla stock dropped over 17% after Trump’s remarks. The decline wiped out around $100 billion in Tesla’s market value. The fallout between Trump and Musk spilled into the crypto market, dragging sentiment lower.

Tesla Stock Price Drop – June 5Source: Google Finance
Tesla Stock Price Drop – June 5. Source: Google Finance

The crypto market crash followed soon after the Tesla selloff. Traders began exiting positions, likely reacting to possible liquidity concerns linked to Musk’s companies. Bitcoin price dropped alongside Ethereum and XRP as the broader market reacted to the Trump Musk crypto dispute.

Crypto Whales Dump BTC, ETH, XRP, SHIB to Coinbase

During the same day, on-chain tracker Whale Alert reported a series of large sell transactions. One whale sent 917 BTC, worth $94.3 million, to Coinbase Institutional. Another wallet transferred 26.67 million XRP to the same exchange.

Crypto whales dump their assets to exchanges when they prepare to sell. The timing of these moves matched the period of increased liquidations and falling prices. XRP whale selloff activity added pressure during the crypto market crash.

Alongside Bitcoin and XRP, whales also offloaded meme tokens. Whale Alert tracked a transaction involving 2.86 trillion SHIB tokens moved to Coinbase. The amount suggests a coordinated move to sell during the ongoing Ethereum liquidation and Bitcoin price drop.

Whale Crypto Transfers During Market CrashSource: X (@whale_alert) – June 6, 2025
Whale Crypto Transfers During Market Crash. Source: X (@whale_alert) – June 6, 2025

The pattern of wallet-to-exchange transfers during heightened volatility signals risk reduction among large holders. The crypto market crash, combined with ongoing political tension and macroeconomic uncertainty, pushed traders and whales to act quickly.

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Tatevik Crypto Journalist CoinChapter

Tatevik Avetisyan

Tatev Avetisyan is a Markets Writer and Analyst at CoinChapter, covering cryptocurrency markets, policy, and regulation. With over seven years of experience in business and marketing development, she has spent the past two years specializing in digital assets and has authored more than 2,000 articles on crypto markets and regulatory developments.She contributes as a guest writer to leading industry publications and is a prominent Web3 advocate in Armenia through Web3Armenia. Her work reflects a broader focus on artificial intelligence and Web3 technologies. Tatev maintains a diversified crypto portfolio, with Bitcoin as her primary holding above CoinChapter’s $1,000 disclosure threshold.