In the wake of Bitcoin’s recent price surge, there has been a notable uptick in activity within the options market, as according to data from the crypto options exchange Deribit, there has also been a surge in open interest for call options expiring on March 29 with strike prices ranging from $60,000 to $75,000. This surge in demand for call options, which give purchasers the right to buy Bitcoin at a fixed price within a set timeframe, suggests a prevailing bullish sentiment among traders.
For instance, Vetle Lunde, a senior analyst at K33 Research, highlights that the options market is gearing up for continued momentum, with a particular focus on bullish price action. Moreover, activity in far out-of-the-money calls indicates a strong belief among traders in further upside potential.
Now, what is intriguing within the options market itself is that while calls with a $50,000 strike price still dominate open interest, out-of-the-money calls are trading at significant premiums to puts, reflecting a bullish tilt in sentiment. This suggests that traders are not only betting on Bitcoin’s price rising but also on increased volatility in the market.
Furthermore, Chris Newhouse, a DeFi analyst at Cumberland Labs, explains that call options in the $75,000 to $100,000 range may signify a bet on longer-dated implied volatility rather than a pure directional play. However, given their nature, these options profit from both price increases and heightened volatility.
In conclusion, the surge in Bitcoin options activity is mirroring the heightened optimism among traders in Bitcoin, since the increased demand for call options and the focus on bullish price action reflects a strong belief in Bitcoin’s potential for further upward momentum.