The upcoming $3 billion in Bitcoin (BTC) month-to-month choices expiration on Sept. 29 might show pivotal for the $26,000 assist stage.
BTC value faces critical headwinds
On one aspect, Bitcoin’s recognition in China seems to be strengthening, following a judicial report from a Shanghai Court docket that acknowledged digital currencies as distinctive and non-replicable.
Conversely, Bitcoin’s spot change buying and selling volumes have dwindled to a five-year low, in response to on-chain analytics agency CryptoQuant. Analyst Cauê Oliveira identified {that a} important issue behind this decline in buying and selling exercise is the rising worry surrounding the macroeconomic outlook.

Regardless of the rise in long-term holders, the lowered buying and selling quantity poses a danger by way of surprising volatility. Which means value swings ensuing from liquidations in spinoff contracts might doubtlessly trigger structural market harm if there aren’t sufficient lively contributors.
Moreover, there’s rising unease amongst conventional monetary establishments in the case of dealing with crypto-related funds.
JPMorgan Chase, the most important financial institution in North America, is reportedly prohibiting transfers “associated to crypto property” inside its retail division, Chase. The said rationale is to guard in opposition to potential involvement in fraudulent or rip-off actions.
Lastly, Bitcoin holders are feeling apprehensive because the Greenback Energy Index (DXY), a measure of the greenback’s energy in opposition to different currencies, reached 106 on Sept. 26, its highest stage in 10 months.
Traditionally, this index reveals an inverse correlation with risk-on property, tending to rise when buyers search security in money positions.
Bitcoin bulls too optimistic?
The open curiosity for the Sep. 29 choices expiration at the moment stands at $3 billion. Nevertheless, it’s anticipated that the ultimate quantity will probably be decrease on account of bullish expectations of Bitcoin’s value reaching $27,000 or greater.
The unsuccessful try to interrupt above $27,200 on Sept. 19 could have contributed to overconfidence amongst Bitcoin buyers.

The 0.58 put-to-call ratio displays the imbalance between the $1.9 billion in name (purchase) open curiosity and the $1.1 billion in put (promote) choices.
Nevertheless, if Bitcoin’s value stays close to $26,300 at 8:00 am UTC on Aug. 25, solely $120 million value of the decision (purchase) choices will probably be out there. This distinction occurs as a result of the proper to purchase Bitcoin at $27,000 or $28,000 is ineffective if BTC’s value is beneath this stage on expiry.
Bitcoin bears eye sub-$26,000 for max revenue potential
Beneath are the 4 likeliest eventualities based mostly on the present value motion. The variety of choices contracts out there on Sept. 29 for name (purchase) and put (promote) devices varies relying on the expiry value. The imbalance favoring either side constitutes the theoretical revenue.
This crude estimate disregards extra complicated funding methods. For example, a dealer might have bought a name possibility, successfully gaining destructive publicity to Bitcoin above a selected value. Sadly, there’s no simple solution to estimate this impact.
- Between $25,000 and $26,000: 1,400 calls vs. 19,300 places. The online end result favors the put devices by $430 million.
- Between $26,000 and $27,000: 6,200 calls vs. 12,600 places. The online end result favors the put devices by $170 million.
- Between $27,000 and $27,500: 9,900 calls vs. 10,100 places. The online result’s balanced between name and put choices.
- Between $27,500 and $28,000: 12,000 calls vs. 8,900 places. The online end result favors the decision devices by $85 million.
It’s value noting that for the bulls to stage the taking part in discipline forward of the month-to-month expiration, they should obtain a 3.2% value improve from $26,200. In distinction, the bears solely want a modest 1% correction beneath $26,000 to achieve a $430-million benefit on Sept. 29.
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Provided that Bitcoin traded beneath the $26,000 assist stage between Sept. 1 and Sept. 11, it wouldn’t be shocking if this stage had been breached once more because the choices expiration approaches. Furthermore, investor sentiment is changing into more and more risk-averse, as evidenced by the S&P 500 dropping to its lowest stage since June.
Consequently, until there’s important information or an occasion that strongly favors Bitcoin bulls, the probability of BTC’s value breaking beneath $26,000 by Sept. 29 stays excessive.
This text is for normal data functions and isn’t supposed to be and shouldn’t be taken as authorized or funding recommendation. The views, ideas, and opinions expressed listed below are the creator’s alone and don’t essentially mirror or symbolize the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.