Bitcoin, Ethereum options expire: Mixed sentiments as BTC nears ATH

  • Bitcoin options see bullish sentiment, with rising whales hinting at potential gains in November.
  • Ethereum options show indecision as prices hover near lows, contrasting Bitcoin’s strong momentum.

As a seasoned researcher with years of experience tracking cryptocurrency markets, I find myself intrigued by the divergent paths taken by Bitcoin and Ethereum in their recent options expirations. The bullish sentiment displayed by BTC‘s whales, coupled with its robust Put-Call Ratio, indicates a potential for gains in November. However, Ethereum’s indecisive market behavior, as shown by its almost balanced Put-Call ratio and stagnant prices, suggests a more cautious approach might be necessary when dealing with ETH.


On October 25th, the expiration of cryptocurrency options produced mixed outcomes for both Bitcoin [BTC] and Ethereum [ETH], as per data collected by Greeks.live.

The expiration event, involving a combined notional value of $5.28 billion, illustrated different investor behavior for the two leading cryptocurrencies. 

BTC options expiration

63,000 Bitcoin options reached their expiration date on October 25th, with a Put-Call Ratio of 0.66, indicating that most traders are optimistic about the market, leaning towards a bullish outlook.

The ratio indicated that the number of call options exceeded put options, suggesting that traders were more inclined toward upward price movements. 

As a crypto investor, I’ve noticed that the price level where the majority of options were likely to expire without value was around $64,000.

The combined worth of unused Bitcoin options amounted to a substantial $4.26 billion, underscoring a high level of market engagement.

At the given moment, Bitcoin was approximately valued at $67,000 during expiration, marking a slight decrease from its previous peak of $68,000. However, it continued to hover near its maximum historical value of $70,000.

On November 8th, the estimated volatility of Bitcoin (IV) has remained steady at 55%. This stability suggests a possible trading opportunity, as traders are bracing themselves for potential market changes following the U.S. elections, which may bring about substantial market movements.

Rise in Bitcoin whales

According to Santiment’s latest findings, there has been an increase in the number of large Bitcoin holders (or “whales”) over the last fortnight, which could indicate a positive outlook for Bitcoin prices.

Over these days, there was an addition of 297 more Bitcoin wallets containing at least 100 BTC, representing a 1.93% growth, resulting in a total count of 16,338 such wallets now.

Over time, it has been observed that a rise in the number of significant Bitcoin owners tends to coincide with a surge in its value, indicating potential future growth for Bitcoin.

As Bitcoin’s value temporarily reached over $68,000 and then corrected slightly to $67,000 in its latest market activity, there was a noticeable rise in the number of whale wallets.

The buildup of whales (large investors) might signal continued attention from significant players, possibly reinforcing Bitcoin’s strength as it faces expected market turbulence in November.

ETH options expiration

403,426 Ethereum options reached their expiration date on October 25th, 20XX. The Put-Call ratio was approximately 0.97, indicating a nearly equal split in optimism and pessimism among traders regarding the market’s direction.

The Max Pain level was established at $2,600, which represents the price level where the majority of options are expected to expire with no value.

The notional value of expired ETH options reached $1.02 billion, emphasizing Ethereum’s significant market presence, though its performance remained more stagnant compared to Bitcoin. 

Realistic or not, here’s ETH’s market cap in BTC’s terms

Currently, Ethereum is being exchanged for approximately $2,468, which is close to its Maximum Potential Loss level, indicating a likelihood of minimal price fluctuations.

As a researcher, I’ve observed a striking difference between Bitcoin and Ethereum. While Bitcoin exhibits robust price fluctuations that suggest confident investment movements, Ethereum’s market behavior appears more uncertain, hinting at indecision among investors. This uncertainty is further compounded by the complexities surrounding the approval and implementation of spot Ethereum Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs).

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2024-10-26 20:08