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- Bitcoin Market Braces for Downturn as Put Options and ETF Outflows Increase
Bitcoin Market Braces for Downturn as Put Options and ETF Outflows Increase
📝 SUMMARY: The Bitcoin market is showing signs of bearish sentiment among traders, with a notable shift in options trading and investment flows indicating preparations for a potential price slump. In the last 24 hours, the volume of Bitcoin put options, which are bets on the price falling, exceeded that of call options on Deribit, a leading crypto options exchange. This resulted in an increase in the put-to-call ratio, a critical measure of market mood, suggesting a growing pessimism regarding Bitcoin's short-term price prospects. Particularly, the focus of put options is on strike prices around $50,000 and $45,000, while Bitcoin's recent trading price hovered around $63,500.
Contributing to the gloomy outlook are significant outflows from U.S. exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that invest in Bitcoin, marking a four-day streak of net withdrawals. This trend underscores weakening investor interest or confidence in Bitcoin through traditional investment vehicles. Notably, the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) experienced heavy outflows, impacting market sentiment and contributing to a broader market correction in the cryptocurrency space.
The decline in Bitcoin's price, which has dropped over 10% from its peak, contrasts sharply with the stock market's performance, where optimism about potential Federal Reserve interest rate cuts has spurred a rally. Despite positive macroeconomic tailwinds earlier in the week that briefly lifted digital assets, Bitcoin and Ethereum have seen their correlation with equities weaken, driven by specific product outflows and heightened liquidations.
Moreover, the crypto market's leverage levels, as indicated by the funding rates for perpetual futures, suggest that the current downturn may not be as severe as previous corrections. However, a significant amount of long position liquidations earlier in the week points to the market's sensitivity to shifts in leverage and investor sentiment, highlighting the volatile nature of cryptocurrency investments.
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