Bitcoin price has slipped below the $88,000 level after climbing to $92,000, putting traders on alert. On Friday, December 26, Bitcoin faces the biggest single-day options expiry in market history, with roughly $23.6 billion notional set to expire.
Now, traders everywhere are watching closely to see how this massive expiry will shake up the market, especially when market liquidity is thin.
$23.6 Billion of Bitcoin Options Expiry
Over $23.6 billion in Bitcoin options expired on Deribit, making it one of the biggest expiry events in recent years. Around 268,000 option contracts settled at the same time, clearing a major amount of risk from the market in a single session.
Despite the size of the expiry, trader positioning still leans positive. The put-to-call ratio stands at 0.38, which means more traders were betting on higher prices than lower ones.
The “max pain” level, where most option holders would see losses, was near $96,000. This level often acts like a price magnet around expiry, even if briefly.
As of now, Bitcoin is trading close to $88,000, with its total market value around $1.75 trillion.
Why This Bitcoin Options Expiry Matters
This expiry comes during a holiday week, when trading volumes are usually lower. With fewer buyers and sellers in the market, each large order carries more impact. That is why sharp moves can happen without any major news.
Historically, Bitcoin often trades sideways or choppy before large expiries, followed by a cleaner move after contracts roll off. Once this open interest disappears, price action can reset quickly.
Because the notional value is so large, even small price moves near expiry can trigger sudden swings as positions are closed or hedges are unwound.
Ethereum Also Faces Pressure
Adding to the risk, around $3.8 billion worth of Ethereum options are also nearing expiry. Ethereum’s max pain level sits near $3,100. This suggests growing stress in the overall crypto market, not just Bitcoin.
As of now, the Ethereum price is trading below $3000, staying below the key pain level.
Despite the massive expiry, analysts expect the price to stay steady or see a small pullback as the market adjusts after this large expiry.
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