In a dramatic turn of events, U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 100% tariff on Chinese imports sent shockwaves through the cryptocurrency market, sparking a massive crash between Friday night and Saturday morning. Within just 24 hours, approximately $19 billion worth of positions were liquidated, wiping out 1.6 million traders. The extreme volatility prompted Crypto.com CEO Kris Marszalek to call on regulators to investigate exchanges for potential irregularities and lack of transparency during the meltdown. Reports surfaced of major price discrepancies and extended trading disruptions on several platforms amid the chaos.
Marszalek, in a post on X, urged authorities to scrutinize exchanges that recorded the highest liquidation volumes, demanding public explanations on price index alignment, trade monitoring, and the separation of internal trading teams. He also raised concerns about prolonged platform slowdowns that left users unable to execute orders for hours. These issues came as the market experienced unprecedented liquidation levels, estimated between $19 and $20 billion over the weekend.
The primary trigger of the crash was Trump’s tariff announcement, which reignited U.S.-China trade tensions. Analysts noted that excessive leverage, automated liquidation mechanisms, and thin overnight liquidity amplified the market’s downward spiral. The sell-off was so severe that several cryptocurrencies saw flash crashes, with some altcoins briefly dropping near zero before partial recoveries.
Meanwhile, operational challenges at major centralized exchanges resurfaced as a point of concern. Recent disruptions such as Binance’s temporary suspension of futures trading due to a margin system malfunction underscored the fragility of trading infrastructure under extreme stress. Marszalek’s pointed questions about price accuracy and platform reliability highlight growing demands for accountability and stronger oversight within the crypto trading ecosystem.