The cryptocurrency market is on high alert as approximately $2.25 billion in Bitcoin and Ethereum options are set to expire today
The crypto market is preparing for increased volatility ahead of the expiry of $2.25 billion in Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) options today. According to market data provided by Deribit, the majority of the expiring options consist of $1.98 billion of Bitcoin options with a Max Pain price of $82k while $271 million of Ethereum options have a Max Pain price of $1,600. At the time of writing, the total open interest for BTC stands at 23,349 while it is 169,217 for ETH.
The put/call ratio of 0.92 means that more purchase options (calls) were bought than sales options (puts), suggesting traders were expecting price for both the assets to increase. This ratio represents overall optimism in the crypto market. According to the data, the last time the put/call ratio was lower than 1 was in March 2023, when the price of Bitcoin dropped below $70,000.
At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading near $84,558 while ETH price is hovering around $1,584 - according to Coinmarketcap data. According to the latest update, the vast majority of the expiring options belong to Bitcoin, with a total value of $1,980,880,000, compared to $271,000,000 for Ethereum.
While speaking on options expiry, a popular crypto analyst known as "The Chart Guy" on X (formerly Twitter) noted that the cryptocurrency market is on high alert for the upcoming expiry of a substantial amount of options contracts. In a recent post, the analyst highlighted that approximately $2.25 billion in Bitcoin and Ethereum options are set to expire today, a development that could usher in significant price movements.
"The expiration of these options contracts is anticipated to influence market dynamics significantly," said the analyst, adding "Historically, such expirations can lead to increased volatility as traders adjust their positions. In the realm of cryptocurrencies, any shift in price can have far-reaching consequences, especially with such a large sum of money at stake."
The U.S. and global stock markets will be closed today in observance of Good Friday. With no major economic reports due, the primary focus will be on the expiry of the options contracts. If the price of Bitcoin moves lower, it could create difficulties for traders who hold a large number of call options, especially at a strike price of $85,000. Conversely, if the price rises, it could put pressure on traders who have a significant amount of put options, particularly at a strike price of $80,000.
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The cryptocurrency market is known for its volatility, and this situation could lead to interesting developments.
