Record $14B Bitcoin Options Expiry Looms as Market Looks Highly Levered-Up

Key Points

  • A significant options expiry event is set to occur on Deribit, with 146,000 bitcoin options contracts expiring, valued at nearly $14 billion.
  • The expiry includes $4 billion worth of BTC options expiring "in the money," potentially causing market volatility.
  • The put-call open interest ratio for the expiry is 0.69, indicating a higher open interest in calls, suggesting leverage is skewed to the upside.
  • BTC has dropped over 10% to $95,000 since the Fed's decision, increasing the risk of magnified losses for traders with leveraged bullish bets.
  • Market sentiment shows a more bearish outlook for ETH compared to BTC, with a significant drop in implied volatility for ETH calls.

Summary

As the year draws to a close, a monumental options expiry event looms on the horizon, set to impact the already highly leveraged crypto market. On Friday at 8:00 UTC, Deribit, the leading crypto options exchange, will see the expiry of 146,000 bitcoin options contracts, valued at nearly $14 billion, marking the largest such event in its history. This expiry represents 44% of the total open interest for all BTC options across different maturities. Additionally, ETH options worth $3.84 billion will also expire, with ETH having dropped nearly 12% to $3,400 since the Fed meeting. The market is poised for potential volatility, with $4 billion worth of BTC options set to expire "in the money," potentially leading to significant market movements. The put-call open interest ratio suggests a bullish bias, but recent market dynamics, including a 10% drop in BTC's value, indicate heightened risk for leveraged positions. The market's outlook appears more bearish for ETH than BTC, with a noticeable decrease in demand for bullish ETH options.

yahoo
December 24, 2024
Crypto
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