Here’s why holding $20.8K will be critical in this week’s $1B Bitcoin options expiry

Bitcoin (BTC) skilled a 16.5% correction between Aug. 15 and Aug. 19 because it examined the $20,800 assist. Whereas the drop is startling, in actuality, a $4,050 value distinction is comparatively insignificant, particularly when one accounts for Bitcoin’s 72% annualized volatility.

At the moment, the S&P 500’s volatility stands at 31%, which is considerably decrease, but the index traded down 9.1% between June 8 and June 13. So, comparatively talking, the index of main U.S.-listed firms confronted a extra abrupt motion adjusted for the historic threat metric.

At first of this week, crypto buyers’ sentiment worsened after weaker circumstances in Chinese language actual property markets pressured the central financial institution to cut back its five-year mortgage prime price on Aug. 21. Furthermore, a Goldman Sachs funding financial institution strategist said that inflationary strain would drive the U.S. Federal Reserve to additional tighten the economic system, which negatively impacts the S&P 500.

Whatever the correlation between shares and Bitcoin, which is at the moment working at 80/100, buyers have a tendency to hunt shelter within the U.S. greenback and inflation-protected bonds once they worry a disaster or market crash. This motion is called a “flight to high quality” and tends so as to add promoting strain on all threat markets, together with cryptocurrencies.

Regardless of the bears’ greatest efforts, Bitcoin has not been in a position to break beneath the $20,800 assist. This motion explains why the $1 billion Bitcoin month-to-month choices expiry on Aug. 26 may benefit bulls regardless of the latest 16.5% loss in 5 days.

Most bullish bets are above $22,000

Bitcoin’s steep correction after failing to interrupt the $25,000 resistance on Aug. 15 shocked bulls as a result of solely 12% of the decision (purchase) choices for the month-to-month expiry have been positioned above $22,000. Thus, Bitcoin bears are higher positioned regardless that they positioned fewer bets.

A broader view utilizing the 1.25 call-to-put ratio exhibits extra bullish bets as a result of the decision (purchase) open curiosity stands at $560 million in opposition to the $450 million put (promote) choices. However, as Bitcoin at the moment stands beneath $22,000, most bullish bets will possible turn into nugatory.

For example, if Bitcoin’s value stays beneath $22,000 at 8:00 am UTC on Aug. 26, solely $34 million price of those put (promote) choices might be accessible. This distinction occurs as a result of there is no such thing as a use in the fitting to promote Bitcoin beneath $22,000 if it trades above that stage on expiry.

Bulls may safe a $160 million revenue

Under are the 4 most probably situations based mostly on the present value motion. The variety of choices contracts accessible on Aug. 26 for name (bull) and put (bear) devices varies, relying on the expiry value. The imbalance favoring both sides constitutes the theoretical revenue:

• Between $20,000 and $21,000: 1,100 calls vs. 8,200 places. The web end result favors bears by $140 million.
• Between $21,000 and $22,000: 1,600 calls vs. 6,350 places. The web end result favors bears by $100 million.
• Between $22,000 and $24,000: 5,000 calls vs. 4,700 places. The web result’s balanced between bulls and bears.
• Between $24,000 and $25,000: 7,700 calls vs. 1,000 places. The web end result favors bulls by $160 million.

This crude estimate considers the decision choices utilized in bullish bets and the put choices completely in neutral-to-bearish trades. Even so, this oversimplification disregards extra advanced funding methods.

Holding $20,800 is crucial, particularly after bulls had been liquidated in futures market

Bitcoin bulls have to push the value above $22,000 on Aug. 26 to stability the scales and keep away from a possible $140 million loss. Nevertheless, Bitcoin bulls had $210 million price of leverage lengthy futures positions liquidated on Aug. 18, so they’re much less inclined to push the value increased within the quick time period.

With that stated, essentially the most possible state of affairs for Aug. 26 is the $22,000-to-$24,000 vary offering a balanced consequence between bulls and bears.

If bears present some energy and BTC loses the crucial $20,800 assist, the $140 million loss within the month-to-month expiry would be the least of their issues. As well as, the transfer would invalidate the earlier $20,800 low on July 26, successfully breaking a seven-week-long ascending development.

The views and opinions expressed listed here are solely these of the author and don’t essentially replicate the views of Cointelegraph. Each funding and buying and selling transfer entails threat. It is best to conduct your individual analysis when making a choice.