Bitcoin [BTC] Futures Open Interest Swells As Halving Nears, Signals To $7,000?

By Lujan Odera
BitMEX Unveils Bitcoin, Ethereum, Cardano & XRP Futures Listing

Bitcoin futures open interest is on a spike as confidence in the market regains its feet since the Black Thursday crash on Mar. 12 that saw the price of the top crypto plummet to $3,800.  A month on, the market shows signals of a bull run heading to the halving despite the price collapsing below the psychological support level at $7,000.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Bitcoin Futures open interest on a spike

According to data collected from, Skew Markets, the past month has seen steady growth in the number of outstanding market positions after a sudden collapse on Mar. 12. OKEx exchange leads the field in open interest of BTC contracts registering $659 million in value of the BTC contracts. This represents a huge spike of 42.9% in the past months in open interest volume.

BitMEX is a close second with a total of $615 million in outstanding BTC futures contracts – a minor leap from the $607 million registered on March 13th. Huobi, Binance and CME close out the top five with a total of $334 million, $202 million and $196 million respectively.

The total open interest of BTC contracts is currently at $2.3 billion, a sharp monthly rise from $1.8 billion, but still falls short of pre-crash levels at almost $6 billion. As the OI gradually swells, a return to pre-crash levels may give a hint of investors coming back to the field as trading resumes normally – a very bullish signal for Bitcoin in the run-up to its halving.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Bitcoin set to breach $7,000 as halving nears

After failing to breach resistance at $7,500 levels, BTC/USD sellers are in control of the market as Bitcoin retraced back to $6811, as at the time of writing. The three-day capitulation came amidst the Bitcoin Cash (BCH) and Bitcoin SV (BSV) halvings but the market is stabilizing giving off a positive vibe in the coming future.

Image: TradingView

A cross above the SMA 50 will effectively signal the start of a bull run in the next month as Bitcoin halving is only a month away. According to the stock-to-flow model, Bitcoin is greatly underpriced and the third halving is the catalyst to pushing the coin toward new all-time highs.

However, there remains doubt on the S2F model and its ability to predict Bitcoin’s price –which has a predetermined supply rate cut. Eric Wall, a crypto analyst argues,

“I think BTC has the potential to reach a market cap similar to gold (for starters), which would put it at >$300k. I think the path for it to get there largely depends on how rapidly bitcoin propagates as a phenomenon throughout society. Not according to some predetermined schedule.”

Advertisement
Lujan Odera
Been in the field since 2015 and he still love everything blockchain and crypto! FC Barcelona fan. Author and journalist. Follow him at @lujanodera.
Why trust CoinGape: CoinGape has covered the cryptocurrency industry since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights to our readers. Our journalists and analysts bring years of experience in market analysis and blockchain technology to ensure factual accuracy and balanced reporting. By following our Editorial Policy, our writers verify every source, fact-check each story, rely on reputable sources, and attribute quotes and media correctly. We also follow a rigorous Review Methodology when evaluating exchanges and tools. From emerging blockchain projects and coin launches to industry events and technical developments, we cover all facets of the digital asset space with unwavering commitment to timely, relevant information.
Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author’s personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses.
Ad Disclosure: This site may feature sponsored content and affiliate links. All advertisements are clearly labeled, and ad partners have no influence over our editorial content.