- Binance saw $19B in liquidations on Oct 10, the largest single-day event in crypto history.
- Reports showed up to $12B in net outflows, while Binance cited data discrepancies and stress tests.
- Binance paid $283M to users after liquidations as spot market share fell to 25% by Jan 2026.
Binance is facing renewed scrutiny after a series of market shocks, withdrawal reports, and shifting public statements. The events began with a record liquidation cascade and later moved into withdrawal concerns and compensation payouts.
Market participants are now reviewing how the exchange has addressed each stage of the crisis.
Record Liquidations and Conflicting Explanations
On October 10, the crypto market recorded what some analysts described as the largest single-day liquidation event in history. Estimates placed total liquidations near $19 billion. Traders reported sharp price swings across major assets.
Early commentary from some observers pointed to a possible platform software failure. Binance rejected that characterization. The exchange attributed the move to macroeconomic triggers, including renewed tariff threats, combined with elevated Ethereum gas fees.
Binance stated that high gas fees limited arbitrage activity and worsened deleveraging. The company maintained that external market stress drove the cascade. The explanation shifted attention away from internal system faults.
Withdrawal Data Disputes and Insolvency Claims
Following the liquidation event, reports circulated of large net outflows from Binance. Data platforms such as Coinglass and DefiLlama showed roughly $12 billion in withdrawals. Binance described these figures as data discrepancies.
In the same period, social media posts claimed “-$17bn of withdrawals in the last 7 days” and warned of insolvency risk. Some messages urged users to withdraw funds immediately. These claims gained traction during heightened market volatility.
Binance responded by directing users to CoinMarketCap data as a reference point. CoinMarketCap is owned by Binance. The exchange later stated that while withdrawals had increased, many were part of internal stress tests and normal user activity.
Compensation, Market Share, and Sector Reaction
In the months after the October event, Binance announced compensation payments totaling $283 million. The payments were directed to users affected by the liquidation cascade. Some market participants interpreted the move as recognition of flaws in risk controls.
By January 2026, Binance’s spot trading market share had fallen to 25%. This level marked its lowest share since 2021. Traders migrated to exchanges such as Bybit and OKX.
Industry figures commented on the broader market reaction. OKX CEO Star Xu stated that aggressive marketing and fragile infrastructure had caused “real and lasting damage” to the sector. Binance has not publicly adopted that framing.
The sequence of events has altered market sentiment around the exchange. Traders continue to monitor reserve data, withdrawal flows, and official statements. Binance maintains that it remains operational and solvent despite the turbulence.
Source: https://www.livebitcoinnews.com/binances-narrative-collapse-from-glitch-to-panic/
