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Bitcoin weakened in early Asia trading on Monday, sliding under $87,500 as Japanese bond yields spiked to levels not seen since 2008. The move strengthened the yen, accelerated carry-trade unwinds, and triggered a wave of crypto liquidations during thin liquidity hours.The pressure followed a sharp rise in Japan’s short-term government bond yields — a shift that traders increasingly interpret as a sign the Bank of Japan (BOJ) may be preparing its first rate hike in more than a decade.Japan Yields Surge, Sending Shockwaves Through Crypto MarketsJapan’s 2-year bond yield briefly reached 1.01%, the highest in 17 years, after BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda said policymakers would assess whether a rate hike is appropriate at this month’s meeting.The comments accelerated yen buying and caused leveraged traders to unwind risk positions funded through yen carry trades — a dynamic that has supported global risk assets throughout 2025.Crypto, which is extremely sensitive to overnight liquidity moves in Asia, was hit immediately:Bitcoin dropped below $87,500, triggering forced liquidationsEther slid toward $2,850Both BTC and ETH long positions saw more than $290 million combined in liquidationsLiquidity remained thin across perpetual futures markets, magnifying the downside movePrediction markets reacted quickly. On Polymarket, the probability of a December BOJ rate hike rose to roughly 50%, up seven percentage points on the day.Why Japan Matters: Yen Strength and Carry Trades Put Pressure on CryptoThe yen’s rapid strengthening is central to the market volatility. For much of the year, traders have borrowed cheaply in yen to buy higher-yielding assets — including equities and crypto.A sudden shift toward BOJ tightening leads to:A stronger yenForced deleveraging of carry tradesLower liquidity for risk assetsAccelerated crypto sell-offs during Asia hoursGiven Bitcoin’s high leverage footprint on offshore exchanges, funding conditions tied to FX markets often amplify downside volatility.Market SnapshotBitcoin (BTC)Fell below $87,500More than $150M in long liquidationsDealers flagged additional downside risk if yen strength continuesEther (ETH)Dropped toward $2,850Approximately $140M in long liquidationsFunding rates compressed sharply, indicating a market-wide deriskingGoldGoldman Sachs reports 70% of institutional investors expect gold prices above $5,000 by 2026Rising safe-haven demand underscores broader macro uncertaintyNikkei 225Declined 1.3%Investors priced in an 87% chance of a December Fed rate cutChina’s manufacturing data remains a key near-term catalystWhat Traders Are Watching NextThis week’s crypto performance may hinge on two variables:BOJ communication ahead of its December meetingYen strength, particularly if USD/JPY breaks lower and accelerates carry-trade unwindsAny further hawkish signal from BOJ leadership would likely spark additional regional volatility — and by extension, more pressure on crypto markets during Asia trading hours, according to CoinDesk.