Značka: Fear

CoinList addresses 'FUD' on withdrawals, cites technical issues for delays

CoinList addresses 'FUD' on withdrawals, cites technical issues for delays

podľa | nov 25, 2022 | 0 |

Cryptocurrency exchange and Initial Coin Offering (ICO) platform CoinList took to Twitter to address “FUD” after a blogger tweeted that users reported being unable to withdraw funds for over a week, sparking fears the company was having liquidity issues or w insolvent.“There is a lot of FUD going around that we would like to address head-on,” CoinList said in a Nov. 24 Twitter thread that stated the exchange is “not insolvent, illiquid, or near bankruptcy.” It said however that its deposits and withdrawals are affected by “technical issues.”2/ We are upgrading our internal ledger systems and are migrating wallet addresses involving multiple custodians.This is one of many efforts we are undertaking to offer our customers around the world better products and services while maintaining compliance.— CoinList (@CoinList) November 24, 2022Crypto-focused blogger Colin Wu had earlier tweeted to his 245,000 followers that “some community members” using CoinList have been unable to withdraw for over a week due to maintenance.CoinList has a $35 million creditor claim with bankrupt crypto hedge fund Three Arrows Capital which Wu said in his tweet was a “loss,” that likely triggered concerns the company was insolvent or illiquid.Looking to dampen fears that have seen bank runs on other platforms, CoinList explained that an upgrade to its internal systems and a migration of wallet addresses that involves “multiple custodians” is being undertaken.The company cited unexplained “custodian issues” as the reason a selection of cryptocurrencies “are taking longer than anticipated to migrate” with one of its unnamed custodian partners suffering from an “outage […] unrelated to the migration” on Nov. 23 which impacted tokens on the platform.Its status page shows “degraded performance” for withdrawals, with four cryptocurrencies unavailable for withdrawal since Nov. 15, and one experiencing delayed deposits since Nov. 16.“Once again, this is purely a technical issue, not a liquidity crunch,” CoinList said. It claimed to hold “all user assets dollar for dollar” and noted it plans to publish its proof of reserves.Cointelegraph has contacted CoinList for more information but did not immediately receive a response.Related: FTX illustrated why banks need to take over cryptocurrencyCoinList claimed on Nov. 14 that it had no exposure to the now-bankrupt FTX exchange, but users are increasingly nervous about centralized platforms and have rushed to ensure safe custody of their assets as evidenced by the surge in sales reported in mid-November by hardware wallet providers Trezor and Ledger.Around the same time, outflows of Bitcoin (BTC) and stablecoins from exchanges hit historic highs and a corresponding uptick in activity was seen on decentralized exchanges.

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

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

podľa | aug 23, 2022 | 0 |

Bitcoin (BTC) experienced a 16.5% correction between Aug. 15 and Aug. 19 as it tested the $20,800 support. While the drop is startling, in reality a $4,050 price difference is relatively insignificant, especially when one accounts for Bitcoin’s 72% annualized volatility.Currently, the S&P 500’s volatility stands at 31%, which is significantly lower, yet the index traded down 9.1% between June 8 and June 13. So, comparatively speaking, the index of major U.S. listed companies faced a more abrupt movement adjusted for the historical risk metric.At the start of this week, crypto investors’ sentiment worsened after weaker conditions in Chinese real estate markets forced the central bank to reduce its five-year loan prime rate on Aug. 21. Moreover, a Goldman Sachs investment bank strategist stated that inflationary pressure would force the U.S. Federal Reserve to further tighten the economy, which negatively impacts the S&P 500.Regardless of the correlation between stocks and Bitcoin, which is currently running at 80/100, investors tend to seek shelter in the U.S. dollar and inflation-protected bonds when they fear a crisis or market crash. This movement is known as a “flight to quality” and tends to add selling pressure on all risk markets, including cryptocurrencies.Despite the bears’ best efforts, Bitcoin has not been able to break below the $20,800 support. This movement explains why the $1 billion Bitcoin monthly options expiry on Aug. 26 could benefit bulls despite the recent 16.5% loss in 5 days.Most bullish bets are above $22,000Bitcoin’s steep correction after failing to break the $25,000 resistance on Aug. 15 surprised bulls because only 12% of the call (buy) options for the monthly expiry have been placed above $22,000. Thus, Bitcoin bears are better positioned even though they placed fewer bets.Bitcoin options aggregate open interest for Aug. 26. Source: CoinGlassA broader view using the 1.25 call-to-put ratio shows more bullish bets because the call (buy) open interest stands at $560 million against the $450 million put (sell) options. Nevertheless, as Bitcoin currently stands below $22,000, most bullish bets will likely become worthless.For instance, if Bitcoin’s price remains below $22,000 at 8:00 am UTC on Aug. 26, only $34 million worth of these put (sell) options will be available. This difference happens because there is no use in the right to sell Bitcoin below $22,000 if it trades above that level on expiry.Bulls could secure a $160 million profitBelow are the four most likely scenarios based on the current price action. The number of options contracts available on Aug. 26 for call (bull) and put (bear) instruments varies, depending on the expiry price. The imbalance favoring each side constitutes the theoretical profit:Between $20,000 and $21,000: 1,100 calls vs. 8,200 puts. The net result favors bears by $140 million.Between $21,000 and $22,000: 1,600 calls vs. 6,350 puts. The net result favors bears by $100 million.Between $22,000 and $24,000: 5,000 calls vs. 4,700 puts. The net result is balanced between bulls and bears.Between $24,000 and $25,000: 7,700 calls vs. 1,000 puts. The net result favors bulls by $160 million.This crude estimate considers the call options used in bullish bets and the put options exclusively in neutral-to-bearish trades. Even so, this oversimplification disregards more complex investment strategies.Holding $20,800 is critical, especially after bulls were liquidated in futures marketBitcoin bulls need to push the price above $22,000 on Aug. 26 to balance the scales and avoid a potential $140 million loss. However, Bitcoin bulls had $210 million worth of leverage long futures positions liquidated on Aug. 18, so they are less inclined to push the price higher in the short term.With that said, the most probable scenario for Aug. 26 is the $22,000 to $24,000 range providing a balanced outcome between bulls and bears. If bears show some strength and BTC loses the critical $20,800 support, the $140 million loss in the monthly expiry will be the least of their problems. In addition, the move would invalidate the previous $20,800 low on July 26, effectively breaking a 7-week-long ascending trend.The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cointelegraph. Every investment and trading move involves risk. You should conduct your own research when making a decision.

Čítaj viac
Crypto markets bounced and sentiment improved, but retail has yet to FOMO

Crypto markets bounced and sentiment improved, but retail has yet to FOMO

podľa | aug 12, 2022 | 0 |

An ascending triangle formation has driven the total crypto market capitalization toward the $1.2 trillion level. The issue with this seven-week-long setup is the diminishing volatility, which could last until late August. From there, the pattern can break either way, but Tether and futures markets data show bulls lacking enough conviction to catalyze an upside break.Total crypto market cap, USD billion. Source: TradingViewInvestors cautiously await further macroeconomic data on the state of the economy as the United States Federal Reserve (FED) raises interest rates and places its asset purchase program on hold. On Aug. 12, the United Kingdom posted a gross domestic product (GDP) contraction of 0.1% year-over-year. Meanwhile, inflation in the U.K. reached 9.4% in July, the highest figure seen in 40 years.The Chinese property market has caused the Fitch Ratings credit agency to issue a “special report” on Aug. 7 to quantify the impact of prolonged distress on a potentially weaker economy in China. Analysts expect asset management and smaller construction and steel-producing companies to suffer the most.In short, risk asset investors are anxiously waiting for the Federal Reserve and Central Banks across the world to signal that the policy of tightening is coming to an end. On the other hand, expansionary policies are more favorable for scarce assets, including cryptocurrencies.Sentiment improves to neutral after 4 monthsThe risk-off attitude caused by increased interest rates has instilled a bearish sentiment into cryptocurrency investors since mid-April. As a result, traders have been unwilling to allocate to volatile assets and sought shelter in U.S. Treasuries, even though their returns do not compensate for inflation.Crypto Fear & Greed Index. Source: alternative.meThe Fear and Greed Index hit 6/100 on June 19, near the lowest ever reading for this data-driven sentiment gauge. However, investors moved away from the “extreme fear” reading during August as the indicator held a 30/100 level. On Aug. 11, the metric finally entered a “neutral” area after a fou-month-long bearish trend.Below are the winners and losers from the past seven days as the total crypto capitalization increased 2.8% to $1.13 trillion. While Bitcoin (BTC) presented a mere 2% gain, a handful of mid-capitalization altcoins jumped 13% or more in the period.Weekly winners and losers among the top-80 coins. Source: NomicsCelsius (CEL) jumped 97.6% after Reuters reported that Ripple Labs displayed interest in acquiring Celsius Network and its assets which are currently under bankruptcy.Chainlink (LINK) rallied 17% after announcing on Aug. 8 that it would no longer support the upcoming Ethereum proof-of-work (PoW) forks that occur during the Merge.Avalanche (AVAX) gained 14.6% after being listed for trading on Robinhood on Aug. 8.Curve DAO (CRV) lost 6% after the nameserver for the Curve.Fi website was compromised on Aug 9. The team quickly addressed the problem, but the front-end hack caused some of its users’ losses.Market may have rallied, but retail traders are neutralThe OKX Tether (USDT) premium is a good gauge of China-based retail crypto trader demand. It measures the difference between China-based peer-to-peer (P2P) trades and the United States dollar.Excessive buying demand tends to pressure the indicator above fair value at 100% and during bearish markets Tether’s market offer is flooded and causes a 4% or higher discount.Tether (USDT) peer-to-peer vs. USD/CNY. Source: OKXOn Aug. 8, the Tether price in Asia-based peer-to-peer markets entered a 2% discount, signaling moderate retail selling pressure. More importantly, the metric has failed to improve while the total crypto capitalization gained 9% in 10 days, indicating weak demand from retail investors.To exclude externalities specific to the Tether instrument, traders must also analyze futures markets. Perpetual contracts, also known as inverse swaps, have an embedded rate that is usually charged every eight hours. Exchanges use this fee to avoid exchange risk imbalances.A positive funding rate indicates that longs (buyers) demand more leverage. However, the opposite situation occurs when shorts (sellers) require additional leverage, causing the funding rate to turn negative.Accumulated perpetual futures funding rate on Aug. 12. Source: CoinglassPerpetual contracts reflected a neutral sentiment after Bitcoin and Ether held a slightly positive (bullish) funding rate. The current fees imposed on bulls are not concerning and resulted in a balanced situation between leveraged longs and shorts.Further recovery depends on the Federal ReserveAccording to derivatives and trading indicators, investors are less inclined to increase their positions at current levels, as shown by the Tether discount in Asia and the absence of a positive funding rate in futures markets.These neutral-to-bearish market indicators are worrisome, given that total crypto capitalization has been in a seven-week uptrend. Investors’ distress over Chinese property markets and further FED tightening movements is the most likely explanation.For now, the odds of the ascending triangle breaking above the projected $1.25 trillion mark seem low, but further macroeconomic data is needed to estimate the direction central banks might take.The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cointelegraph. Every investment and trading move involves risk. You should conduct your own research when making a decision.

Čítaj viac
Bitfinex Bitcoin longs hit a record-high, but does that mean BTC has bottomed?

Bitfinex Bitcoin longs hit a record-high, but does that mean BTC has bottomed?

podľa | jún 6, 2022 | 0 |

Bitcoin (BTC) has been unable to close above $32,000 for the past 28 days, frustrating bulls and pushing the Fear and Greed index to bearish levels below 10. Even with June 6’s small boost, the tech-heavy Nasdaq stock market index is down 24% year-to-date.Investors who keep a close eye on regulatory development were possibly scared after New York state made clear its intention to regulate the crypto industry, including Bitcoin mining.On June 2, New York Attorney General Attorney Letitia James issued an investor alert against “risky cryptocurrency investments,” citing the assets’ volatility. According to Cointelegraph, the attorney general is convinced that crypto investments create “more pain than gain” for investors.The New York State Senate approved a proof-of-work (PoW) mining ban on June 2 and the proposed controversial bill aims to prohibit any new mining operations in the state for the next two years and is now headed for the governor’s desk.Interestingly, as all of this takes place, Bitcoin derivatives traders have never been so bullish, according to one metric.Margin traders are extremely bullishMargin trading allows investors to leverage their positions by borrowing stablecoins and using the proceeds to buy more cryptocurrency. When those savvy traders borrow Bitcoin, they use the coins as collateral for shorts, meaning they are betting on a price decrease.That is why some analysts monitor the total lending amounts of Bitcoin and stablecoins to gain insight into whether investors are leaning bullish or bearish. Interestingly, Bitfinex margin traders entered their highest ever leverage long (bull) position on June 6.Bitfinex BTC margin longs (blue), in BTC contracts. Source: TradingViewBitfinex margin traders are known for creating position contracts of 20,000 BTC or higher in a very short time, indicating the participation of whales and large arbitrage desks.Notice that the longs (bull) indicator vastly increased in mid-May and currently stands at 90,090 BTC contracts, its highest-ever registry. To understand how severe this movement was, one might compare it to the June–July 2021 previous all-time high of 54,500 BTC contracts in longs.These traders hit the bullseye as their bullish positions peaked right as Bitcoin price bottomed. Over the subsequent months, they could sell those long (bull) contracts at a profit, reducing the number of open long positions (blue line).Sometimes even whales get it wrongOne might assume that these whales and arbitrage desks trading at Bitfinex margin markets have better timing (or knowledge), and thus it makes sense to follow their steps. However, if we analyze the same metric for 2019 and 2020, a completely different scenario emerges.Bitfinex BTC margin longs (blue), in BTC contracts. Source: TradingViewThere were three hikes in the number of Bitfinex BTC margin longs this time around. The first instance happened between mid-November and mid-December 2019 after the indicator jumped from 25,200 BTC to 47,600 BTC longs. However, over the next month, the Bitcoin price failed to break above $8,300 and these traders closed their positions with minimal gains.The next wave of BTC longs took place in early-February 2020, but those traders were caught by surprise after the Bitcoin price failed to break $10,500, forcing them to close their margin positions at a considerable loss.Bitfinex BTC margin longs increased from 22,100 to 35,700 contracts in late-July 2020. The movement coincided with the price rally to $47,000, so the early entrants might have scored some profit, but most of the investors exited their margin longs with no gains.Clever margin longs might be right 75% the time, but there’s a catchTo put things in perspective, over the previous four instances where BTC margin longs (bulls) significantly increased, investors had one profitable trade, two that were mostly neutral and one considerable loss. Some might say odds still favor those tracking the indicator, but one must remember that whales and arbitrage desks could easily crash the market when closing their positions. In such cases, those following the strategy might arrive late to the party and come out at a loss.Will the current Bitfinex margin longs increase result in extreme profits? It might depend on how traditional markets, mainly tech stocks, perform over the next couple of weeks.The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cointelegraph. Every investment and trading move involves risk. You should conduct your own research when making a decision.

Čítaj viac
Bitcoin creeps toward $30K, but data shows bears in favor for Friday’s $1.8B BTC options expiry

Bitcoin creeps toward $30K, but data shows bears in favor for Friday’s $1.8B BTC options expiry

podľa | máj 25, 2022 | 0 |

Bitcoin (BTC) price has been unable to close above $32,000 for the past fifteen days and is currently down 37% year-to-date. Although that might seem excessive, it does not stand out among some of the largest U.S.-listed tech companies that have also sustained notable losses recently. In this same 15-day period, Shopify Inc. (SHOP) stock dropped 76%, Snap Inc. (SNAP) crashed 73%, Netflix (NFLX) is down 70% and Cloudflare (NET) presented a negative 62% performance. Cryptocurrency investors should be less concerned about the current “bear market” considering Bitcoin’s 79% annualized volatility. However, that is clearly not the case, because Bitcoin’s “Fear and Greed Index” reached an 8 out of 100 on May 17, the lowest level since March 2020.Traders fear that worsening macroeconomic conditions could cause investors to seek shelter in the U.S. dollar and Treasuries. Japan’s industrial production data released on May 18 showed a 1.7% contraction year-over-year. Moreover, May 20 retail sales data from the United Kingdom showed a 4.9% decline versus 2021. Financial analysts across the globe blame the weakened market conditions on the U.S. Federal Reserve’s slow reaction to the inflation surge. Thus, traders increasingly seek shelter outside of riskier assets, which negatively impacts Bitcoin price. Bulls placed most bets above $40,000The open interest for the monthly May 27 options expiry in Bitcoin is $1.81 billion, but the actual figure will be lower since bulls were caught by surprise as the BTC price has fallen 26% in the last 30 days.Bitcoin options aggregate open interest for May 27. Source: CoinGlassThe 1.31 call-to-put ratio reflects the $1.03 billion call (buy) open interest against the $785 million put (sell) options. Nevertheless, 94% of the bullish bets will likely become worthless as Bitcoin currently trades near $30,000.If Bitcoin’s price remains below $31,000 on May 27, bulls will only have $60 million worth of these call (buy) options available. This difference happens because there is no use in a right to buy Bitcoin at $31,000 if it trades below that level on expiry.Related: Low inflation or bust: Analysts say the Fed has no choice but to continue raising ratesBears can secure a $390 million profit on May 27Below are the three most likely scenarios based on the current price action. The number of options contracts available on May 27 for call (buy) and put (sell) instruments varies, depending on the expiry price. The imbalance favoring each side constitutes the theoretical profit:Between $28,000 and $30,000: 800 calls (buy) vs. 14,200 puts (sell). The net result favors bears by $390 million.Between $30,000 and $32,000: 2,050 calls (buy) vs. 11,200 puts (sell). Bears have a $250 million advantage.Between $32,000 and $33,000: 5,650 calls (buy) vs. 9,150 puts (sell). The net result favors bears by $110 million.This crude estimate considers the call options used in bullish bets and the put options exclusively in neutral-to-bearish trades. Even so, this oversimplification disregards more complex investment strategies.For example, a trader could have sold a call option, effectively gaining negative exposure to Bitcoin above a specific price, but unfortunately, there’s no easy way to estimate this effect.Bitcoin bears need to sustain the price below $30,000 on May 27 to profit $390 million from the monthly options expiry. On the other hand, bulls can reduce their loss by pushing BTC above $32,000, an 8% rally from the current $29,700 price. However, judging by the bearish macroeconomic conditions, bears seem better positioned for May 27 expiry.The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cointelegraph. Every investment and trading move involves risk. You should conduct your own research when making a decision.

Čítaj viac
Altcoin prices briefly rebounded, but derivatives metrics predict worsening conditions

Altcoin prices briefly rebounded, but derivatives metrics predict worsening conditions

podľa | máj 20, 2022 | 0 |

On May 12, the total crypto market capitalization reached its lowest close in 10 months and the metric continues to test the $1.23 trillion support level. However, the following seven days were reasonably calm while Bitcoin (BTC) gained 3.4% and Ether (ETH) added a modest 1.5%. Presently, the aggregate crypto cap stands at $1.31 trillion.Total crypto market cap, USD billion. Source: TradingViewRipples from Terra’s (LUNA) collapse continue to impact crypto markets, especially the decentralized finance industry. Moreover, the recent decline in traditional markets has led to a loss of $7.6 trillion in market cap from the Nasdaq Stock Market Index, which is higher than the dot-com bubble and the March 2020 sell-offs.On May 17, U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell confirmed their intention to suppress inflation by raising interest rates but he cautioned that the Fed’s tightening movement could impact the unemployment rate.The bearish sentiment spilled to crypto markets and the “Fear and Greed Index,” a data-driven sentiment gauge, hit 8/100 on May 17. This is the metric’s lowest value since March 28, 2020, two weeks after the generalized crash that sent oil futures to negative levels and brought Bitcoin (BTC) below $4,000.Below are the winners and losers from the past seven days. While the two leading cryptocurrencies presented modest gains, a handful of mid-capitalization altcoins rallied 15% or higher.Weekly winners and losers among the top 80 coins. Source: NomicsMonero (XMR) rallied 22% as investors awaited the “tail emission” to be implemented at block 2,641,623 or sometime around June 4. The community decided to include a 0.6 XMR minimum reward in every block, so miners are not 100% reliant on transaction fees.Cosmos (ATOM) gained 16.5%, a movement that seems a part of a broader retracement that started on May 12 when ATOM fell to its eleven-month low near $8. It is worth noting that its parent chain, Cosmos Hub, witnessed massive capital outflows from its liquidity pools, according to reporting from Cointelegraph.Klaytn (KLAY), a blockchain-backed by South Korean internet giant Kakao, announced on May 16 that it would provide infrastructure, and initial nodes, and develop early use cases for the Blockchain-based Service Network (BSN), providing an entry into the Chinese marketThe Tether premium shows slight discomfortThe OKX Tether (USDT) premium is a good gauge of China-based retail trader crypto demand. It measures the difference between China-based peer-to-peer (P2P) trades and the United States dollar.Excessive buying demand tends to pressure the indicator above fair value at 100% and during bearish markets, Tether’s market offer is flooded and causes a 4% or higher discount.Tether (USDT) peer-to-peer vs. USD/CNY. Source: OKXThe Tether premium peaked at 5.4% on May 12, its highest level in more than six months, but the movement could have been related to the Terra ecosystem’s massive outflows, which were mainly the USD Terra (UST) stablecoin.More recently, the indicator showed a modest deterioration as it currently holds a 1.8% discount. The lack of retail demand is not especially concerning because the total cryptocurrency market capitalization lost 34% in the past month.Altcoin futures reflect disinterest in leveragePerpetual contracts, also known as inverse swaps, have an embedded rate that is usually charged every eight hours. Exchanges use this fee to avoid exchange risk imbalances.A positive funding rate indicates that longs (buyers) demand more leverage. However, the opposite situation occurs when shorts (sellers) require additional leverage, causing the funding rate to turn negative.Accumulated perpetual futures funding rate on May 20. Source: CoinglassPerpetual contracts are reflecting mixed sentiment as Bitcoin and Ethereum hold a slightly positive (bullish) funding rate, but altcoins signal the opposite. For example, Solana’s (SOL) negative 0.35% weekly rate equals 1.5% per month, which is not a concern for most derivatives traders.Considering that derivatives indicators are showing little improvement, there’s a lack of trust from investors as the total crypto market capitalization battles to keep the $1.23 trillion support. Until this sentiment improves, the odds of an adverse price movement remain high.The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cointelegraph. Every investment and trading move involves risk. You should conduct your own research when making a decision.

Čítaj viac
Is the bottom in? Data shows Bitcoin derivatives entering the ‘capitulation’ zone

Is the bottom in? Data shows Bitcoin derivatives entering the ‘capitulation’ zone

podľa | jan 25, 2022 | 0 |

Analysts love to issue price predictions and it seems that nine out of 10 times they are wrong. For example, how many times did analysts say “we will never see Bitcoin back at X price again,” only to see it plunge well below that level a few months later? It doesn’t matter how experienced a person is or how connected in the industry. Bitcoin’s (BTC) 55% volatility must be taken seriously and the impact this has on altcoins is usually stronger during capitulation-like movements.I was undeniably wrong about how much crypto could fall from macro contagion. I remain bullish on the space as a whole and think it is the most important mega-trend of our times.I joined CT during 2018 and I will be here with you guys in the coming yrs, bull or bear.— Zhu Su (@zhusu) January 24, 2022For those unfamiliar with the case, on Dec. 7, Zhu Su’s Three Arrows Capital acquired $676.4 million worth of Ether (ETH) after its price collapsed 20% over 48 hours. Zhu went as far as saying that he would continue to buy “any panic dump,” despite acknowledging that Ethereum fees were unsuitable for most users.To understand whether there is still an appetite for bearish bets and how pro traders are positioned, let’s take a look at Bitcoin’s futures and options market data.Futures traders are unwilling to shortThe basis indicator measures the difference between longer-term futures contracts and the current spot market levels. A 5% to 15% annualized premium is expected in healthy markets and this price gap is caused by sellers demanding more money to withhold settlement longer.On the other hand, a red alert emerges whenever this indicator fades or turns negative, a scenario known as “backwardation.”Bitcoin 3-month futures basis rate. Source: Laevitas.chNotice how the indicator held the 5% threshold despite the 52% price correction in 75 days. Had pro traders effectively entered bearish positions, the basis rate would have flipped closer to zero or even negative. Thus, data shows a lack of appetite for short positions during this current corrective phase.Options traders are still in the “fear” zoneTo exclude externalities specific to the futures instrument, traders should also analyze the options markets. The 25% delta skew compares similar call (buy) and put (sell) options. The metric will turn positive when fear is prevalent because the protective put options premium is higher than similar risk call options.The opposite holds when greed is prevalent, causing the 25% delta skew indicator to shift to the negative area. Bitcoin 30-day options 25% delta skew. Source: Laevitas.chThe 25% skew indicator flipped to the “fear” area as it moved above 10% on Jan. 21. That 17% peak level was last seen in early July 2021, and curiously, Bitcoin was trading at $34,000 back then.This indicator might be interpreted as bearish when considering that arbitrage desks and market makers are overcharging for downside protection. Still, this metric is backward-looking and usually predicts market bottoms. For example, just two weeks after the skew indicator peaked at 17% on July 5, Bitcoin price bottomed at $29,300.Correlation with traditional markets is not so relevantIt is worth noting that Bitcoin has been on a downtrend for the past 75 days, and this is before the Federal Reserve’s tightening discourse on Dec. 15. Moreover, the increased correlation with traditional markets does not explain why the S&P 500 index peaked on Jan. 4, while Bitcoin was already down 33% from the $69,000 all-time high.Considering the lack of bears’ appetite to short BTC below $40,000 and options traders finally capitulating, Bitcoin shows little room for the downside. Furthermore, Bitcoin futures liquidation over the past week totalled $2.35 billion, which significantly reduced buyers’ leverage. Of course, there are no guarantees that $32,930 was the final bottom, but short sellers will likely wait for a bounce before entering bearish positions.The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cointelegraph. Every investment and trading move involves risk. You should conduct your own research when making a decision.

Čítaj viac
Bitcoin price can’t find its footing, but BTC fundamentals inspire confidence in traders

Bitcoin price can’t find its footing, but BTC fundamentals inspire confidence in traders

podľa | jan 18, 2022 | 0 |

Bitcoin’s (BTC) sudden crash on Jan. 10 caused the price to trade below $40,000 for the first time in 110 days and this was a wake-up call to leveraged traders. $1.9 billion worth of long (buy) futures contracts were liquidated that week, causing the morale among traders to plunge.The crypto “Fear & Greed” index, which ranges from 0 “extreme fear” to 100 “greed” reached 10 on Jan. 10, the lowest level it has been since the Mar. 2020 crash. The indicator measures traders’ sentiment using historical volatility, market momentum, volume, Bitcoin dominance and social media.As usual, the panic turned out to be a buying opportunity because the total crypto market capitalization rose by 13.5%, going from a $1.85 trillion bottom to $2.1 trillion in less than three days. Currently, investors seem to be digesting this week’s economic data that shows United States December 2021 retail sales going down by 1.9% compared to the previous month.Investors have reason to worry about stagflation, a scenario where inflation accelerates despite the lack of economic growth. However, even if this eventually proves that Bitcoin’s digital scarcity is a positive characteristic, markets will still take shelter with whatever asset is deemed safe. Thus, the first wave will potentially be damaging for cryptocurrencies.Top weekly winners and losers on Jan. 17. Source: NomicsBitcoin price was flat over the past seven days, effectively underperforming the altcoin market’s 7% gain. Part of this unusual movement can be explained by layer-1 decentralized applications platforms showing a positive performance that was driven by Fantom (FTM), Cardano (ADA), Near Protocol (NEAR) and Harmony (ONE).Loopring (LRC), a zkRollup open protocol for decentralized exchanges on Ethereum, presented the worst performance of the week. The DEX volume using the protocol peaked at $30 million per day in early December 2021, but is now near $6 million. Meanwhile, Dfinity (ICP) and Chainlink (LINK) are adjusting after a 40% or higher rally in the first 10 days of 2022.Tether’s premium and the futures premium held up wellThe OKEx Tether (USDT) premium or discount measures the difference between China-based peer-to-peer (P2P) trades and the official U.S. dollar. Figures above 100% indicate excessive demand for cryptocurrency investing. On the other hand, a 5% discount usually indicates heavy selling activity.OKEx USDT peer-to-peer premium vs. USD. Source: OKExThe Tether indicator bottomed at a 3% discount on Dec. 31, which is slightly bearish but not alarming. However, this metric has held a decent 2% discount over the past week, signaling no panic selling from China-based traders.To further prove that the crypto market structure has held, traders should analyze the CME’s Bitcoin futures contracts premium. That metric analyzes the difference between longer-term futures contracts to the current spot price in regular markets.Whenever this indicator fades or turns negative, it is an alarming red flag. This situation is also known as backwardation and indicates that bearish sentiment is present.BTC CME 2-month forward contract premium vs. Bitcoin/USD. Source: TradingViewThese fixed-month contracts usually trade at a slight premium, indicating that sellers request more money to withhold settlements for longer. As a result, futures should trade at a 0.5% to 2% premium in healthy markets, a situation known as contango.Notice how the indicator flipped negative on Dec. 9 as Bitcoin traded below $49,000 but it still managed to sustain a slightly positive number. This shows that institutional traders display a lack of confidence, although it is not yet a bearish structure.Considering that the aggregate cryptocurrency market capitalization is down 9.5% to date, the market structure held rather nicely. The CME futures premium would have gone negative if there had been excessive demand for short-sellers. Unless these fundamentals change significantly, there is not yet sufficient information available that would support calls for a sub-$40,000 Bitcoin price.The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cointelegraph. Every investment and trading move involves risk. You should conduct your own research when making a decision.

Čítaj viac
Ethereum futures and options data reflects traders’ mixed emotions on $3.2K ETH price

Ethereum futures and options data reflects traders’ mixed emotions on $3.2K ETH price

podľa | jan 11, 2022 | 0 |

Ether (ETH) has been an emotional rollercoaster over the past three months primarily because its price rallied twice. First, it peaked at $4,870 on Nov. 10 and at $4,780 on Dec. 1. However, the double top was quickly followed by a harsh rejection, which led to $490 million in long futures contract liquidations in 48 hours.Once again, hope was instilled on Dec. 8 after Ether commenced to rally 28.5% in four days to retest the $4,400 support. Soon after, the downtrend continued, leading to the $2,900 bottom on Jan. 10, which was the lowest ETH price seen in 102 days. This low marked a 40% low from the $4,870 all-time high and caused traders to question whether a bear market had been set.Ether/USD price at FTX. Source: TradingViewOne might argue that Ether is simply following Bitcoin’s 42% correction from the Nov. 10 all-time high at $69,000 and the most recent pullback has partially been attributed to the United States Federal Reserve’s potential tighter monetary policies and Kazakhstan’s political turmoil impact on mining.This simplistic analysis leaves behind some crucial developments, such as China’s official digital yuan wallet becoming the most downloaded app in local mobile app stores on Jan. 10. Furthermore, a pilot version of the nation’s central bank digital currency (CBDC) is being used in select cities and it also became available for download on app stores on Jan. 4.Even with the fiscal policy pressure and negatively skewed price action, traders should still monitor the futures contracts premium (basis rate) to analyze how bullish or bearish professional traders are.Futures traders are becoming more anxiousThe basis indicator measures the difference between longer-term futures contracts and the current spot market levels. A 5% to 15% annualized premium is expected in healthy markets. This price gap is caused by sellers demanding more money to withhold settlement longer.However, a red alert emerges whenever this indicator fades or turns negative, a scenario known as “backwardation.”Ether 3-month futures basis rate. Source: Laevitas.chNotice how the indicator peaked at 20% on Nov. 8 as Ether surpassed $4,800, but then gradually faded away to an 8% low on Dec. 5 after ETH flash crashed to $3,480. More recently as Ether touched a $2,900 low on Jan. 10, the basis rate moved to 7%, which is its lowest level in 132 days.Consequently, professional Ether traders are not comfortable despite the 10% recovery to $3,200 on Jan. 11.Options traders recently flipped neutralTo exclude externalities specific to the futures instrument, one should also analyze the options markets. The 25% delta skew compares similar call (buy) and put (sell) options. The metric will turn positive when fear is prevalent because the protective put options premium is higher than similar risk call options.The opposite holds when greed is the prevalent mood causing the 25% delta skew indicator to shift to the negative area.Ether 30-day options 25% delta skew. Source: TradingViewWhen market makers and whales are bearish, the 25% delta skew indicator shifts to the positive area, and readings between negative 8% and positive 8% are usually deemed neutral.Related: World’s biggest podcaster, Joe Rogan, has a ‘lot of hope’ for cryptoEther option traders entered “fear” mode on Jan. 8 as the 25% delta skew surpassed the 8% threshold, peaking at 11% two days later. However, the quick bounce from the $2,900 low instilled confidence in Ether options traders and also moved the options “fear and greed” metric to a meager 3%.At the moment, there is not a consensus sentiment-wise from Ether traders because futures markets indicate slight discontent and options arbitrage desks and whales have recently abandoned their bearish stance. This makes sense because the current $3,200 price is still reflecting the recent 15% weekly drop and is far from exciting.The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cointelegraph. Every investment and trading move involves risk. You should conduct your own research when making a decision.

Čítaj viac
$1.1B in Bitcoin options expire on Friday, but data points to a sub-$55K BTC price

$1.1B in Bitcoin options expire on Friday, but data points to a sub-$55K BTC price

podľa | dec 8, 2021 | 0 |

Bitcoin (BTC) bulls are still licking their wounds from the bloody Dec. 4 correction which saw the price collapse from $57,000 all the way to $42,000. This 26.5% downside move caused $850 million in long BTC futures contracts to be liquidated, but more importantly, it shifted the “Fear and Greed index” to its lowest level since July 21.Bitcoin/USD price at FTX. Source: TradingViewIt is somehow strange to compare both events, as the July 21 sub $30,000 low would have erased the entire gains in 2021. Meanwhile, the $42,000 low from Dec. 4 is still a 44% gain year-to-date. Compare this against the S&P 500 which is up 21% in 2021 and the WTI oil price which has accrued a 41% gain.Bulls might be focused on the Bitcoin reserves held at exchanges, which continues to descend and currently sits at the lowest level in 3 years. According to data from CryptoQuant, there are now less than 2.27 million BTC deposited at exchanges and having fewer coins available for trading signals that investors are unwilling to sell in the short term. This is a dynamic that many investors consider to be bullish.Even with the apparent balance between call (buy) and put (sell) options on Friday’s $1.1 billion expiry, bears are better positioned after Bitcoin stabilized slightly above $50,000.Bitcoin options aggregate open interest for Oct. 10. Source: CoinGlassA broader view using the call-to-put ratio shows a modest 7% advantage to Bitcoin bulls because the $555 million call (buy) instruments have a larger open interest versus the $520 million put (sell) options. However, the 1.07 indicator is deceptive because the 11.5% price drop over the past week caused most bullish bets to become worthless.For example, if Bitcoin’s price remains below $52,000 at 8:00 am UTC on Dec. 10, only $50 million worth of those call (buy) options will be available. That effect happens because there is no value in the right to buy Bitcoin at $55,000 if it is trading below such price.The numbers suggest that bulls are set for a major lossBelow are the three most likely scenarios based on the current price action. The number of option contracts available on Dec. 10 for bulls (call) and bear (put) instruments vary depending on the expiry BTC price. The imbalance favoring each side constitutes the theoretical profit:Between $47,000 and $50,000: 400 calls vs. 6,600 puts. The net result is $300 million favoring the put (bear) instruments.Between $50,000 and $54,000: 1,700 calls vs. 4,700 puts. The net result is $160 million favoring the put (bear) instruments.Above $54,000: 2,400 calls vs. 2,900 puts. The net result favors the put (bear) options by $30 million.This crude estimate considers the call options being used in bullish bets and the put options that are exclusively in neutral-to-bearish trades. Even so, this oversimplification disregards more complex investment strategies.For instance, a trader could have sold a call option, effectively gaining a negative exposure to Bitcoin above a specific price. But, unfortunately, there’s no easy way to estimate this effect.Bears will do their best to hold BTC below $50,000Bitcoin bears need a gentle push to sub-$50,000 to score a $300 million profit. On the other hand, bulls would need a 7.2% price recovery from the current $50,500 to reduce their loss by half.Considering the $2 billion liquidation of leverage long positions on Dec. 4, bulls are likely trying to stay afloat and will be unwilling to add more risk right now. It would be unnecessarily ineffective for bullish investors to waste their efforts trying to salvage this short-term loss. So in this instance, bears look set to maintain the upper hand in this weekly options expiry.The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cointelegraph. Every investment and trading move involves risk. You should conduct your own research when making a decision.

Čítaj viac
Načítava

Získaj BONUS 8 € v Bitcoinoch

nakup bitcoin z karty

Registrácia Binance

Burza Binance

Aktuálne kurzy