News View Non-AMP

Bitcoin & Ethereum Face $14.21B Options Expiry – Market Impact Explained

Published by
Debashree Patra

Today, over $14.21 billion worth of Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) options are set to expire, an event that could shake up short-term price trends. Traders are closely watching how this massive expiry will impact market movement.

Market Performance Falls Short

Bitcoin options expiring today have a total value of $12.075 billion, with a put-to-call ratio of 0.49, meaning more traders are betting on BTC going up rather than down. The “maximum pain” point—where most traders would lose money—is $85,000. Bitcoin is currently trading at around $85,960, so there’s a chance prices could dip slightly to match this level.

This quarterly expiry was significant, making up over 40% of the total open interest. BTC dominated with nearly 80% of the volume, while ETH accounted for 20%. For Ethereum, $2.135 billion in options are expiring, with a put-to-call ratio of 0.39 and a maximum pain level at $2,400. Unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum’s volatility curve is flatter, suggesting that while traders expect movement, there’s no clear directional bias.

Other cryptos, like Solana, had only a small share. Despite concerns about Ethereum, its market structure remains stable. However, the first quarter ended weaker than expected, with volatility pushing prices toward the lower range.

Is it really different?

This expiry is bigger than usual because it’s the last Friday of March, marking both a monthly and quarterly close. Crypto options trading platform Deribit schedules expiries on Fridays to align with traditional financial markets. Compared to last week’s expiry of just $1.8 billion in BTC options, today’s event is much larger, making it a key moment for market sentiment.

Market Expectations and Trading Strategies

Analysts at Greeks.live suggest that most traders expect Bitcoin to retest lower levels between $84,000 and $85,000. However, Bitcoin has been stuck in a narrow trading range, meaning any big move could break this pattern. Some traders are watching resistance at $88,400 and strong support at $77,000.

Ethereum, on the other hand, is showing a high trading volume but less of a clear price direction. Traders might use this opportunity to adjust their strategies based on implied volatility (IV), which is currently fluctuating due to the quarterly expiry.

Market Current Sentiment

Traders are feeling extreme fear, as shown by the Fear & Greed Index at 33. While big investors (whales) are buying, a large BTC transfer by the U.S. government and today’s $16.5B options expiry could cause short-term price swings. Bitcoin needs to break $90,000 to stay bullish, but fear in the market is keeping traders cautious.

FAQs

What’s the Fear & Greed Index for Bitcoin today?

The Fear & Greed Index is at 33, indicating extreme fear, which may lead to cautious trading and potential short-term volatility.

Can Ethereum overtake Bitcoin?

Ethereum could surpass Bitcoin in market cap if adoption grows and ETH 2.0 boosts scalability, but BTC remains dominant as digital gold.

Debashree Patra

Fun-loving and cheerful, a passionate blockchain and crypto writer who knows no boundary…connect if you share the same passion. With 10+ years of writing experience, I am a Crypto Journalist by chance, exploring, and learning all the dynamics of the sci-fi action-filled crypto world. Currently, focusing on cryptocurrency news and price data. With a passion for research and challenging my capabilities, I am slowly getting into the crypto arena to bring new insights every day.

Recent Posts

Is Pi Network Breakout Imminent? New Roadmap Sparks 4% Surge Amidst Mixed Reactions

Pi Network price has surged over 4% in the past 24 hours following the launch…

April 20, 2025

Charles Schwab to Launch Spot Crypto Trading by 2026, Boosting Bitcoin and Ethereum Access

Charles Schwab’s new CEO, Rick Wurster, announced that the company is gaining significant momentum in…

April 20, 2025

What Happened In Crypto This Week?

 The cryptocurrency market experienced a whirlwind of developments this week. From Bitcoin price volatility and…

April 20, 2025

Firing Powell Could Set Dangerous Precedent and Hurt Crypto, Warns Pompliano

Crypto investor Anthony Pompliano recently criticized President Trump's recent threat to fire Fed Chair Jerome…

April 19, 2025

XRP Price Prediction 2025

XRP is currently trading near $2 after bouncing back from $1.61, with many traders viewing…

April 19, 2025

XRP News: ETF Approval Could Suck Up Supply Like a “Vacuum” & Pump Price Higher

A popular crypto analyst from the Good Morning Crypto podcast has made a strong prediction…

April 19, 2025