Bitcoin Clears $84,000 Resistance, Liquidates Nearly $83M in Short Bets

Bitcoin cleared the heavily contested $84,000 resistance zone, triggering nearly $83 million in short liquidations as exchanges forced bearish traders to buy back the asset. The current squeeze is significantly smaller than the September 21, 2026 breakout, which wiped out roughly $262 million in short positions within a single hour and $648 million across the wider crypto market over 24 hours. Market data suggests fewer traders are heavily shorting the $82,000 to $84,000 range this time, pointing to lower leverage or reduced bearish conviction following previous losses. Sustaining the price above $84,000 will now rely primarily on spot buying and continued ETF inflows, rather than the mechanical price-boosting effect of short liquidations.