The crypto market rose around 1.2% on Friday, with total market capitalization ticking higher as a wave of short liquidations and stronger tech-led risk sentiment lifted prices despite persistent geopolitical tensions.

Bitcoin (BTC) climbed roughly 1.5% to trade near the $77,000 level after rebounding from recent lows, while Ethereum (ETH) gained about 1% to hover around $2,200. Major altcoins such as $XRP ($XRP), $BNB ($BNB), and Solana (SOL) also moved higher by 1–2%, reflecting a broader recovery across the market.

The move higher was largely driven by a short squeeze in derivatives markets. More than $150 million in crypto positions were liquidated over the past 24 hours, with roughly 70% of those tied to short positions. The…