Bitcoin Options Expiry Hints At Easing Crypto Market Volatility ahead

Bhushan Akolkar
August 16, 2024 Updated June 20, 2025
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Bitcoin and Ethereum Options Expiry: Is Market Volatility Coming Before US Jobs Data Release?

Highlights

  • Bitcoin options expiry of 24,000 contracts on August 16 has a put-call ratio of 0.83.
  • The current options expiry accounts for just 10% of total open positions currently in the market.
  • Despite cooling inflation data, Bitcoin is unable to break past $61,300 resistance due to macroeconomic challenges.

After facing a strong rejection at $61,300 levels this week, the Bitcoin price tanked to $57,000 on Thursday, just ahead of the Bitcoin options expiry on Friday. The put-call ratio for BTC and ETH options shows that the bulls and bears are engaged in a tight fight currently.

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Bitcoin Options Expiry and Easing Market Volatility

On Friday, August 16, a total of 24,000 Bitcoin options are set to expire with a put call ratio of 0.83 a notional value of $1.4 billion, and a max pain point of $59,500. This put-call ratio which is close to 1 shows that the bulls and bears are having a tough fight among themselves. As of press time, the Bitcoin price is trading 5% down at $58,077 with technical indicators hinting at a BTC price drop to $54,000.

Courtesy: Deribit

The current options expiry represents only 10% of the total open positions currently in the market, with upcoming August, September, and December positions accounting for just over 20% each. Thus, the options term distribution remains relatively balanced and has strong resilience. The options market hints at easing crypto market volatility in the future which shows that the market could be entering a more stable phase.

Along with Bitcoin options, a total of 184,000 Ethereum (ETH) options are expiring today with a put-call ratio of 0.80, a notional value of $470 million, and a max pain point of $2,650. The Ethereum price is also facing some selling pressure down 3.47% at press time and trading at $2,587.96 with a market cap of $311 billion.

Courtesy: Deribit
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Bitcoin Rally Blocked Despite Macro Tailwinds

Despite the cooling CPI inflation data, Bitcoin bulls have failed to regain strength during the current market volatility facing strong rejections at $61,300 levels. 10x Research noted that the macro tailwinds have been preventing the Bitcoin rally to $66,000 with traders staying confused amid the strong disconnect between US tech stocks and the underperformance of the crypto market.

Courtesy: 10x Research

As per the 10x Research report, Bitcoin could retreat into the trading zone between $50,000 and $60,000. On the upside, BTC is facing strong resistance in the range between $60,000-$61,000. This potential slowdown might also give oversold technical indicators a chance to reset, raising the likelihood of Bitcoin retesting its August 5 low near $50,000—a move that could catch many investors by surprise.

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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.
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Why Trust CoinGape

CoinGape has covered the cryptocurrency industry since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights Read more…to our readers. Our journal 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.

About Author
About Author
Bhushan is a seasoned crypto writer with over eight years of experience spanning more than 10,000 contributions across multiple platforms like CoinGape, CoinSpeaker, Bitcoinist, Crypto News Flash, and others. Being a Fintech enthusiast, he loves reporting across Crypto, Blockchain, DeFi, Global Macros with a keen understanding in financial markets. 

He is committed to continuous learning and stays motivated by sharing the knowledge he acquires. In his free time, Bhushan enjoys reading thriller fiction novels and occasionally explores his culinary skills. Bhushan has a bachelors degree in electronics engineering, however, his interest in finance and economics drives him to crypto and blockchain.
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.