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Bitcoin Options Expiry Tests $60K Recovery Amid Defensive Positioning

A massive $1.9 billion in Bitcoin options contracts expired on July 3, forcing the market to contend with persistent downside hedging. While Bitcoin managed to reclaim the $60,000 threshold this week, derivatives data reveals that traders remain deeply cautious, prioritizing protection over bullish bets as uncertainty lingers into the third quarter.

GreeksLive reported that the 31,000 BTC contracts settled with a put-call ratio of 0.7 and a maximum pain point of $61,000. This follows a broader trend of defensive positioning, where investors continue to pay premiums for puts across short-term maturities. The firm’s analysis indicates that Bitcoin’s 25-delta skew remains negative, signaling that demand for immediate downside protection is far outweighing appetite for upside exposure.

Ether markets show even greater apprehension, with 135,000 options expiring at a notional value of $230 million. The put-call ratio for ETH sits at 1.29, suggesting more aggressive hedging around the $1,650 maximum pain level. This sentiment is compounded by sluggish spot Bitcoin ETF flows, which saw nearly $1.79 billion in weekly outflows—the largest withdrawal of 2026—further dampening the recent price rebound.

Market participants are now closely monitoring gamma exposure, which remains concentrated near $60,000 for Bitcoin and $1,700 for Ether. These levels act as gravitational anchors for short-term price action. Despite the recent recovery, GreeksLive warns that the long-term downtrend persists, driven by consistent selling pressure from large holders and a market pivot toward traditional assets like semiconductors and artificial intelligence.

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