A massive $5.5 billion worth of Bitcoin options are set to expire on July 26, a date marked by heightened volatility due to several factors impacting the cryptocurrency market. The simultaneous expiration of these options, coupled with recent selling pressure from various sources, could significantly influence Bitcoin’s price trajectory.
The recent offloading of Bitcoin by the Mt. Gox estate, the German government, and Genesis Trading has created a substantial sell-side pressure on the market. These combined sales have exerted downward pressure on Bitcoin’s price, preventing it from breaking above the $68,000 resistance level.
Options Market Leaning Towards Puts
The current options market landscape is skewed towards put options, indicating a bearish sentiment among traders. However, the overall open interest of $5.5 billion can be misleading, as the majority of options are concentrated at specific strike prices.
A Bitcoin price below $64,000 would favor put options, while a price between $64,000 and $66,000 would result in a balanced outcome. Only if Bitcoin surpasses $66,000 would call options gain a significant advantage.
Deribit Dominates Options Market
Deribit, the leading Bitcoin options exchange, holds the largest share of the expiring options with $4 billion in open interest. CME, OKX, and Binance follow with $800 million, $400 million, and $300 million, respectively.
The outcome of the July options expiry will depend heavily on Bitcoin’s price movement in the coming days. Bulls will need to defend the $66,000 support level to maximize their potential gains from the expiring call options.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The author’s views are personal and may not reflect the views of Chain Affairs. Before making any investment decisions, you should always conduct your own research. Chain Affairs is not responsible for any financial losses.
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