BTC plunges 0.73% in 15 minutes: short-term selloff triggered by technical resistance stalling and uncertainty around Fed policy converging

Between 13:30 and 13:45 UTC on June 18, 2026, BTC saw a sharp drop of 0.73% within 15 minutes, with the price ranging from 63,879.4 to 64,383.4 USDT and a swing of 0.78%. The market is in extreme fear: the Fear and Greed Index remains in the “extreme fear” band at 21, and short-term volatility has increased significantly.

The main driver behind this move was a technical rejection at a key resistance level, which triggered algorithmic sell-offs. BTC’s intraday high reached $66,288 but failed to break through the $66,000–$66,300 resistance zone effectively, triggering stop-loss sell orders and algorithmic liquidation, leading to a rapid price pullback. At the same time, uncertainty around the Fed’s monetary policy formed the fundamental macro backdrop. Market expectations for rate cuts in 2026 have dropped to 50.5%, and rising rate expectations have continued to weaken the appeal of non-yielding assets.

Second, ongoing net outflows from Bitcoin ETFs further intensified sell pressure in the spot market. On June 17, the single-day net outflow totaled $54.9 million; in the first week of June, it set a historical record with a $340 million net outflow for the week. From May 15 to June 3, cumulative net outflows continued for 13 straight days at $440 million (about 59,400 BTC), leaving spot buyers unable to effectively absorb the selling pressure. In addition, high leverage long positions in the derivatives market triggered a cascade of liquidations. Within 24 hours, a total of $43 million in liquidations occurred, with 71.4% coming from long positions, amplifying short-term downside moves. Multiple factors created a negative feedback loop: tighter macro liquidity flowed through to ETF selling, then to technical resistance rejections, and finally to leverage liquidation, escalating volatility step by step.

Going forward, attention should be on the effectiveness of support in the $60,000–$62,000 range. If ETF net outflows continue or the Fed unexpectedly tightens policy, the price may test lower levels again. Long-term holders accumulated 125,000 BTC in June, indicating a dip-buying strategy that may help provide floor support. Investors should closely monitor the Fed’s policy direction, ETF fund flows, and the gains/losses around key technical levels, while staying alert to the risks of leveraged positions.