The phrase “Black Friday” now carries a very different connotation for crypto market participants following Friday’s flash crash that saw $19B in leveraged positions wiped out. Ostensibly, the catalyst for the move was the announcement of 100% tariffs and new export controls on China (subsequently walked back), but the unprecedented scale of the move suggests many moving parts to the story. We break down the main vectors contributing to the sell off, including the market’s massive liquidity drain, the collateral valuation mechanics of certain crypto-trading platforms, and the role that auto-deleveraging mechanisms played. We also discuss the lessons being learned in the aftermath and what this means for both retail and institutional investors going forward.
Speakers:
David Duong, CFA - Global Head of Investment Research
Joshua Pak - Senior CES Sales Trader
Colin Basco - Research Associate