- The cryptocurrency market experienced heightened institutional interest in Bitcoin (BTC), with a substantial 12.70% increase in open interest (OI) on the CME in the last 24 hours.
- CME leads the market with 132.90K BTC in OI, contributing to the diverse ecosystem of Bitcoin derivatives trading.
The cryptocurrency market is currently experiencing a notable surge in institutional interest, with a particular focus on Bitcoin (BTC).
In the last 24 hours, there has been a significant 12.70% increase in open interest (OI) observed on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), a leading platform for cryptocurrency derivatives. This heightened institutional engagement with CME is attributed to the exchange’s robust regulatory framework, deep liquidity, and the perceived security offered by a regulated platform, setting it apart from its less-regulated counterparts.
Open interest, a crucial metric indicating the total number of outstanding derivative contracts awaiting settlement, plays a pivotal role in gauging market sentiment and liquidity.
Recent data from CoinGlass reveals that CME is at the forefront with 132.90K BTC in OI, constituting 30.59% of the total and equating to $6.21 billion. Following CME, other major contributors to the diverse ecosystem of Bitcoin derivatives trading include Binance, OKX, Bitget, Deribit, BingX, Bitmex, and Bitfinex. These platforms collectively contribute to the evolving landscape of Bitcoin derivatives trading.
Bitcoin Price Volatility Amid ETF Fake News
Bitcoin options data provider, Greeks.Live, reports on the significant volatility caused by the recent fake news fiasco involving the SEC. The unfolding drama exceeded expectations, leading to a sharp increase in Realized Volatility (RV), while Implied Volatility (IV) experienced a slight decline. The unusual data logic is attributed to the fact that the ETF has been actively traded for over a month, with a substantial number of investors already placing bets. The short-term IV has consequently reached a recent high.
The SEC’s dissemination of fake news had dual effects. On one hand, it revealed limitations in the driving effect of the ETF on Bitcoin for the majority of investors. On the other hand, it further weakened the already fragile dynamics of the market game. As a result, many investors opted for risk reduction strategies, including reducing leverage and positions, and engaging in an early „sell the news“ approach.
The Drama Around ETF Approval
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is facing criticism following Chairman Gary Gensler’s acknowledgment of the agency’s X account being „compromised“ to disseminate false information about the approval of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Within the crypto community, there is a sentiment that the SEC is responsible for the confusion and subsequent market turmoil. Senior Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas expressed his perspective on X (formerly Twitter), suggesting that the SEC was the source of the misinformation, attributing it to a mishandled scheduled tweet.
In another X post, Balchunas speculated that the SEC might have intended to schedule the tweet for December 10, the agency’s deadline for approving spot Bitcoin products, but due to a mis-scheduling error by a staff member, it was posted on December 9.
