Crypto Shorts Lose $2.74B in 24 Hours in Record Squeeze

Crypto short positions worth $2.74B were liquidated over 24 hours as of August 20, 2026. The reading points to an intense forced unwind of bearish leveraged positions after the previous day’s rally, when $1.44 billion in short liquidations was reported for August 19. The two figures are stated over different periods, however, and do not on their own establish a like-for-like day-to-day trend.

Data Snapshot

MetricCurrentPreviousChangePeriodAs ofSourceShort positions liquidated$2.74B——24 hoursAugust 20, 2026CoinGlassShort positions liquidated$1.44 billion——August 19, 2026August 19, 2026KuCoinBitcoin price$68,424.00—5.54%August 19, 2026August 19, 2026KuCoinEthereum price$2,087.87—8.8%August 19, 2026August 19, 2026KuCoinTotal crypto liquidations$2.99 billion——late August 19, 2026August 19, 2026Crypto News Flash

$2.74B in short liquidations follows August 19’s $1.44 billion reading

Short liquidations occur when traders who have borrowed or used derivatives to bet on lower prices are forcibly closed out after prices rise beyond an exchange’s margin requirements. Such closures can add buying pressure to a rising market, intensifying a short squeeze.

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