Bitcoin and Ether options worth $2.4B set to expire today, max BTC pain at $61K

As a researcher with extensive experience in cryptocurrency markets and derivatives, I find the upcoming expiration of Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) options contracts on May 3 particularly intriguing. With a combined notional value of $2.4 billion at stake, this event could potentially lead to increased market volatility.


Approximately $2.4 billion worth of Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) options contracts are approaching their expiration date on May 3. This event could potentially indicate heightened market instability as investors decide whether to exercise their options or let them expire.

As a crypto investor, I can tell you that a Bitcoin options contract is a financial instrument I can use to bet on the price direction of Bitcoin without actually holding the cryptocurrency itself. This contract derives its value from the underlying Bitcoin asset, enabling me to profit from potential price increases or decreases based on my prediction.

As a researcher studying financial derivatives, I can explain that there exist two primary types: call and put options. With a call option, an investor is granted the privilege to acquire a certain cryptocurrency at a predetermined price prior to a specific expiration date. Conversely, put options bestow upon investors the ability to sell a designated cryptocurrency at a predefined price before the given expiry date.

The put-call ratio is a popular tool among investors for evaluating the market’s overall mood. When traders buy a larger number of put options than call options, this is seen as a bearish indicator. Conversely, if they prefer buying call options over puts, it suggests a bullish outlook on the market.

In simpler terms, a put-to-call ratio under 0.7 indicates a high level of optimism among investors, suggesting a bullish market outlook. On the other hand, a put-to-call ratio above 1 suggests pessimism and fear, signaling a bearish trend.

As a researcher studying the Bitcoin market, I’ve discovered that on May 3rd, a total of 23,367 Bitcoin contracts with a combined value of approximately $1.39 billion are scheduled to expire. According to data from the Deribit exchange, the put-to-call ratio for these options contracts currently stands at 0.50. This ratio indicates that for every 50 call (buy) contracts, there are 49 put (sell) contracts. The maximum pain point for these contracts is presently set at $61,000 – the price level that will result in financial losses for the largest number of contract holders.

Bitcoin and Ether options worth $2.4B set to expire today, max BTC pain at $61K

Approximately 334,248 Ethereum contracts worth a total of one billion dollars are slated to terminate on Friday. The distribution of these contracts is skewed towards puts with a ratio of 0.37 and a maximum threshold at $3,000.

Bitcoin and Ether options worth $2.4B set to expire today, max BTC pain at $61K

Historically, the end of options contract periods has led to heightened price fluctuations in the crypto spot markets for a short time. In recent weeks, Bitcoin and Ether have faced downward market pressures.

As an analyst, I’ve observed that the Bitcoin price dipped beneath the $60,000 threshold, indicating a substantial correction of around 20% in just one week following the halving event. Similarly, Ethereum‘s price took a hit and dropped below the $2,900 mark. Historically, the crypto market tends to exhibit a rebound from volatility driven by options expiry within a few days after the expiration date.

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2024-05-03 13:47