Here’s Why Oil Dropped to Negative Prices – Can it Happen to Bitcoin [BTC]?

By Nivesh Rustgi
Bitcoin-BTC-Bulls

The spot prices of oil dropped to $0.01 on Monday, as it inks a historic day in trading. It occurred on the last day of the futures contract expiration for the month of April. Nevertheless, there was a lot of discrepancy between the spot price and the futures price as it went as low as $-38.

The drastic changes in price on a single day had more to do with speculators, than actual traders of oil. It had much to with a concept called ‘roll yield in a contango,’ where the futures traders rolled their position to the next month, as taking delivery of the barrels is not feasible.

Hence, while having had to sell their contracts, they began covering the huge difference in spot and futures prices, which began the historic fall of abnormal proportions. Ari Paul, the Managing Partner at Blocktower Capital notes,

…this is about supply and demand for the *May future* which was driven far from its brothers by quirks having nothing to do with supply or demand for oil.

Moreover, the markets are still in contango for the June and July contracts.

cme oil prices
CME Oil Quotes

Why Bitcoin might be Different?

Peter Schiff, the CEO of Europac and a gold buff explains how the exact opposite can occur when the long bets are placed. Primarily, oil fell as short traders were settling their contracts or selling at the latest low prices, but there is no demand for the long contracts since delivery is not possible. He said,

In oil the shorts are trying to deliver, but the longs don’t want it. In gold the longs will try to take delivery, but the shorts won’t have it!

Bitcoin [BTC] can expect a similar trend, and that is what we saw in 2019 when short squeezes and spot interest drove the markets to a 250% gain.

Moreover, since with Bitcoin, the delivery or spot exchange of Bitcoin is rather easier than oil, or even gold, buyers can be expected to arrive much quicker on spot markets. This is what evidently occurred during the March 12-13 crash, when the ‘cascading liquidations’ were driving to prices to lows, but the price at spot exchange like Coinbase began to rise.

Of course, liquidity in the crypto markets and interest in spot buying must be there to cushion the drop. Furthermore, their producers or the miners, will never face the problem of inventory cost or forced to sell at negative prices. Nevertheless, as for gold, even with the lowest of values, it can be melted to form jewellery, while Bitcoin can only be stored in a pen drive.

How do you think the oil crash is affecting other business and market psychology? Please share your views with us. 

Advertisement
Nivesh Rustgi
Nivesh from Engineering Background is a full-time Crypto Analyst at Coingape. He is an atheist who believes in love and cultural diversity. He believes that Cryptocurrency is a necessity to deter corruption. He holds small amounts of cryptocurrencies. Faith and fear are two sides of the same coin. Follow him on X at @nivishoes or mail him at nivesh(at)coingape.com
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.