Traders Pile In: Bitcoin Open Interest Hits All-Time High As Price Nears $112K

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Bitcoin futures open interest has climbed to fresh record highs this week. Traders have piled into contracts betting on rising prices. Open interest topped $80 billion on May 23, up roughly 30% since the start of the month. That shows more money is riding on Bitcoin’s next moves than ever before.

Rising Futures Interest

According to CoinGlass, more than $80 billion of Bitcoin futures contracts remain open. That’s the largest total on record. Traders have boosted positions by about 30% since May 1. Many are using borrowed funds to bet on higher prices. Big moves in either direction could trigger forced sales if the market flips.

ETF Inflows Provide Support

Based on reports, spot Bitcoin ETFs have attracted over $2.5 billion in inflows this week. Those are real coins moving into vaults. Institutions aren’t just trading on paper—they’re buying actual Bitcoin. Those flows help steady the market when risky bets start to wobble. They add a layer of demand that didn’t exist in past rallies.

Source: Coinglass

Option Bets Cluster At High Strikes

Bitcoin options open interest is also at eye-catching levels. On Deribit, traders have piled in more than $1.5 billion of bets at the $110,000 and $120,000 strike prices. There’s over $1 billion at $115,000, $125,000 and $130,000 strikes too. That shows people are thinking the price could keep climbing well above six figures. But it also means there’s a lot of money riding on a narrow band of outcomes.

BTC is now trading at $110,940. Chart: TradingView

Expiry Risk Looms Over Market

Nearly $2.76 billion of Bitcoin contracts are set to expire today, May 23. Based on reports from Deribit, the put/call ratio stands at 1.2, meaning there are slightly more bets on a price drop than on a rise. The so-called max pain level sits near $103,000—the point where the largest number of options will finish worthless. If price drifts toward that level, it could trigger squeezes or sudden moves as traders scramble.

Bitcoin Price Nears $112K

Bitcoin’s spot price climbed to around $111,150 in late trading, reaching as high as $111,999 earlier in the day. That’s a new high, but it came in a steadier climb than past breakouts. Many point to easing trade tensions between the US and China. Others highlight Moody’s downgrade of US sovereign debt as driving interest in alternative stores of value. That mix of drivers has helped carry prices higher without the typical fireworks.

Looking ahead, traders will watch whether ETF demand can keep counterbalancing the risks from crowded futures and options markets. A small pullback could spark a wave of liquidations that sends prices tumbling fast. But continued big inflows into ETFs could give longer legs to this rally. Either way, volatility looks set to stay high in the weeks to come.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Christian Encila

They say journalists never truly clock out. But for Christian, that’s not just a metaphor, it’s a lifestyle. By day, he navigates the ever-shifting tides of the cryptocurrency market, wielding words like a seasoned editor and crafting articles that decipher the jargon for the masses. When the PC goes on hibernate mode, however, his pursuits take a more mechanical (and sometimes philosophical) turn.

Christian’s journey with the written word began long before the age of Bitcoin. In the hallowed halls of academia, he honed his craft as a feature writer for his college paper. This early love for storytelling paved the way for a successful stint as an editor at a data engineering firm, where his first-month essay win funded a months-long supply of doggie and kitty treats – a testament to his dedication to his furry companions (more on that later).

Christian then roamed the world of journalism, working at newspapers in Canada and even South Korea. He finally settled down at a local news giant in his hometown in the Philippines for a decade, becoming a total news junkie. But then, something new caught his eye: cryptocurrency. It was like a treasure hunt mixed with storytelling – right up his alley!

So, he landed a killer gig at NewsBTC, where he’s one of the go-to guys for all things crypto. He breaks down this confusing stuff into bite-sized pieces, making it easy for anyone to understand (he salutes his management team for teaching him this skill).

Think Christian’s all work and no play? Not a chance! When he’s not at his computer, you’ll find him indulging his passion for motorbikes. A true gearhead, Christian loves tinkering with his bike and savoring the joy of the open road on his 320-cc Yamaha R3. Once a speed demon who hit 120mph (a feat he vowed never to repeat), he now prefers leisurely rides along the coast, enjoying the wind in his thinning hair.

Speaking of chill, Christian’s got a crew of furry friends waiting for him at home. Two cats and a dog. He swears cats are way smarter than dogs (sorry, Grizzly), but he adores them all anyway. Apparently, watching his pets just chillin’ helps him analyze and write meticulously formatted articles even better.

Here’s the thing about this guy: He works a lot, but he keeps himself fueled by enough coffee to make it through the day – and some seriously delicious (Filipino) food. He says a delectable meal is the secret ingredient to a killer article. And after a long day of crypto crusading, he unwinds with some rum (mixed with milk) while watching slapstick movies.

Looking ahead, Christian sees a bright future with NewsBTC. He says he sees himself privileged to be part of an awesome organization, sharing his expertise and passion with a community he values, and fellow editors – and bosses – he deeply respects.

So, the next time you tread into the world of cryptocurrency, remember the man behind the words – the crypto crusader, the grease monkey, and the feline philosopher, all rolled into one.

Disclaimer: The information found on NewsBTC is for educational purposes only. It does not represent the opinions of NewsBTC on whether to buy, sell or hold any investments and naturally investing carries risks. You are advised to conduct your own research before making any investment decisions. Use information provided on this website entirely at your own risk.

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