October 10 Crypto Flash Crash: Market Makers Wiped Out

Mike Novogratz, CEO of Galaxy Digital, said: “Even on Hyperliquid, the market makers, you know, 30 percent of them went out of business. Got zeroed.” He described the crash as “a flash crash that did a lot of damage to the fabric of the market” and noted this wipeout was sparked by an oracle malfunction on Binance causing a synthetic stablecoin price dislocation.

The immediate effects saw a sharp decline in valuable cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, XRP, and Solana. The market experienced a drop in retail investor participation, affecting overall sentiment. Novogratz described this as a blow to market stability.

Financially, the crash prompted a surge in profit-taking from early investors, especially in Bitcoin. Market dynamics shifted as institutional inflows attempted to stabilize prices, yet liquidity remained limited as market makers exited.

The flash crash has raised alarms across the crypto ecosystem, prompting concerns about the market’s resilience against technological failures. Stakeholders are assessing the implications on investor trust and market structure adaptation in response to such events.

Insights suggest potential long-term shifts in crypto trading as entities adapt to heightened liquidity risks. Historical parallels indicate a trend where systemic issues act as precursors to increased regulatory oversight and technology upgrades in crypto market infrastructure.