BTC Market Eyes Major $93.5K Short Squeeze as Federal Reserve Holds Rates Steady
BTC retreated from session peaks following the Federal Reserve's decision to maintain current interest rates, though futures data indicates market participants may target concentrated short positions around the $93,500 price level.

Bitcoin (BTC) experienced a rapid surge toward $90,600 during Wednesday's trading session, though these advances quickly disappeared following the announcement that the US Federal Reserve would maintain its current interest rate policy. While Bitcoin's price action displayed significant volatility, market data reveals that traders are positioning for a potential advance toward $93,500. According to one market analyst, this particular price point represents a critical liquidation area, where more than $4 billion worth of short positions using leverage face potential forced closure.
Key takeaways:
- Approximately $4.5 billion in BTC short liquidations are concentrated around $93,500, establishing it as a probable target zone for stop-hunting activity.
- The Bitcoin premium on Coinbase continues to show negative readings, indicating insufficient US spot BTC purchasing interest.
Concentrated short liquidations establish $93,500 as Bitcoin's next price objective
Crypto trader Mark Cullen points out that the $93,500 level appears prominently on Bitcoin's exchange liquidation mapping. According to Cullen's analysis, this particular price area displays an unmistakable "Come get me!" characteristic, with the liquidation concentration protruding like a "sore thumb" on the chart.
Data from CoinGlass reveals that $4.5 billion worth of accumulated short positions are gathered in the vicinity of $93,500. Should Bitcoin advance into this price territory, automatic liquidations could amplify upward momentum, potentially transforming a gradual climb into an explosive move fueled by short sellers being forced to exit their positions.
Nevertheless, market participation patterns show inconsistency. The Coinbase Bitcoin premium index, a metric that monitors US spot market demand through the platform, continues to register deeply negative values. This data point implies that the current rally derives more strength from derivatives trading and leveraged positions rather than from robust spot market purchases by US-based market participants.
Market indicators maintain "risk-off" positioning despite price recovery
Cryptocurrency analyst Leo Ruga emphasizes that both the Composite (incorporating SPX, GOLD, Crude oil, and DXY) versus BTC risk oscillator along with the onchain pressure oscillator are showing alignment within risk-off zones. The risk oscillator is presently positioned around 52, whereas onchain pressure continues at elevated readings above 34, thresholds that correspond with market tension rather than trending expansion phases.
According to Ruga's assessment, achieving a durable recovery requires selling pressure to exhaust itself. In the absence of this condition, maintaining a robust bullish trend could prove challenging.
Market analyst Pelin Ay indicates that the Whale Ratio is transmitting a neutral-to-cautious message instead of providing clear accumulation indicators. Currently, this ratio hovers around its 100-day moving average while staying significantly beneath extreme threshold levels.
These readings indicate that whale participants are refraining from distribution activities, yet simultaneously they are not establishing positions that would suggest anticipation of price appreciation. In the absence of definitive movement within the Whale Ratio metric, market volatility is likely to continue without establishing a clear directional momentum.