Crypto Lending Peaks Amid Record Liquidations

Key Points:* Crypto lending surged by $20.46 billion in Q3 2025.

• DeFi lending increased by $14.52 billion.
• Largest single-day liquidation event reached $17 billion. Crypto lending surged by 38.5% in Q3 2025, reaching a record $73.59 billion, reported by Galaxy, while a market crash on October 10 forced $17 billion in liquidations.

This record surge in crypto leverage and resulting liquidations highlight vulnerabilities in the market, significantly impacting investors and reflecting broader trends within the cryptocurrency ecosystem.

Q3 Lending Peaks at $73.59 Billion Amid Market Turmoil

Crypto lending surged by $20.46 billion in Q3 2025, reaching $73.59 billion. This increase was partly driven by heightened DeFi lending, which grew by $14.52 billion to $40.99 billion. Futures open interest, a measure of market leverage, saw significant growth, peaking at $220.37 billion by early October. However, a drastic market crash on October 10 led to the liquidation of over $17 billion in futures positions, marking the largest single-day liquidation event. Binance, Bybit, and Hyperliquid were prominent players in these liquidations. Market reactions were swift, with many exchanges dealing with unprecedented volumes. Despite the magnitude, there have been no official responses from industry leaders or regulatory bodies.

Richard Teng, CEO, Binance, – “The record liquidations on October 10 reflect the volatile nature of crypto derivatives, but they also signal a critical juncture for risk management in trading.”

Richard Teng, CEO, Binance, – “The record liquidations on October 10 reflect the volatile nature of crypto derivatives, but they also signal a critical juncture for risk management in trading.”

Bitcoin Dips 18% as October Liquidations Set New Record

Did you know? The $17 billion liquidation on October 10, 2025, surpassed the previous record of $10 billion set in May 2021.

Bitcoin (BTC) currently trades at $92,599.74, with a market cap of $1.85 trillion and dominates 58.74% of the market. According to CoinMarketCap, its 24-hour trading volume reached $81.32 billion, declining by 16.05%. Price changes over 90 days show an 18.26% decrease.

Bitcoin(BTC), daily chart, screenshot on CoinMarketCap at 02:19 UTC on November 20, 2025. Source: CoinMarketCap Experts from the Coincu research team highlight potential regulatory oversights due to surging crypto leverage. Technological advances in DeFi are expected to bolster resilience against future liquidity shocks in markets. Furthermore, historical precedence warns of possible heightened volatility and regulatory scrutiny in upcoming fiscal quarters.