Political events in 2025 demonstrated how geopolitics can amplify and accelerate movements in crypto markets. The start of Donald Trump’s second presidential term generated optimism that fueled a rally and pushed Bitcoin to record highs, but the euphoria quickly gave way to sharp pullbacks and large liquidations.
Optimism and Record High Prices
Following the inauguration, expectations of eased regulatory pressure and more favorable crypto policies created a strong positive sentiment. Riding this wave of optimism, Bitcoin reached an all-time high of $108,000, marking a significant benchmark for the market early in the year.
Volatility and Liquidations
However, the rapid rise was accompanied by high vulnerability to corrections: on February 3, a sudden sell-off in Bitcoin and Ethereum triggered a cascade of deleveraging, resulting in over $3.6 billion liquidated and more than 700,000 positions closed. Such events highlight how large open leverage on thin liquidity can turn any shock into an avalanche of automatic position closures.
The market continued to exhibit extreme fluctuations throughout the year, with both longs and shorts susceptible to abrupt sentiment shifts. For a detailed analysis of the mechanics behind mass sell-offs, see the article on Bitcoin volatility.
Geopolitical Risks and Tariffs
Political decisions regarding trade policy also had a direct impact on the market: the announcement of reciprocal tariffs on April 2 triggered sell-offs across global assets, and by April 9 Bitcoin fell below $75,000. This again demonstrated that foreign policy news can trigger price reactions in crypto assets, even when the primary event is not directly related to the crypto market.
The Largest Liquidation in History
The year’s climax came in October, when within a single day $19 billion in leveraged positions were wiped out, and approximately 1.6 million traders were liquidated. This episode showed how the combination of massive open interest and narrow liquidity can lead to systemic position squeezes affecting hundreds of thousands of participants.
Lessons for Traders
The main lesson is that leverage increases not only profits but also the risk of systemic losses; in times of geopolitical turbulence, automated liquidation mechanisms exacerbate price moves. Repeated large sell-offs emphasize the importance of risk size control and understanding liquidity conditions on chosen platforms. For typical liquidation scenarios, see the overview on cryptocurrency liquidations.
Why This Matters
If you mine with 1 to 1,000 devices, 2025 market events affect you indirectly through the mined coin’s price and payout stability from pools. Sharp price drops reduce revenue in ruble terms and may increase the risk of temporary service or exchange condition deteriorations, so even passive market participants should monitor foreign policy and news.
Additionally, mass liquidations increase volatility and can cause spikes in fees and slippage when exchanging crypto for fiat—this impacts operational decisions for miners, such as timing sales and managing electricity reserves.
What to Do?
For miners in Russia with small or medium farms, simple practical steps are important: diversify income—sell part of your coins regularly to cover expenses and hold some to avoid dependence on sudden price swings. This helps avoid forced selling during sharp downturns and smooths revenue.
If you trade or use leverage, limit exposure, set reasonable stop levels, and avoid aggressive leverage, especially during geopolitical news. Also, check pool settings, electricity payment reserves, and readiness to reduce load if profitability drops—basic protective measures are described in the article on how to protect yourself.