X post<\/a> on February 20, Glassnode shared its weekly Bitcoin options market update, analyzing the traders\u2019 behavior and sentiment in relation to present market conditions. The market analytics firm reports a notable change in volatility expectations that helps to subside the presently heightened bearish sentiments.<\/p>\nAccording to Glassnode analysts, At-the-money (ATM) implied volatility across maturities has significantly dropped to around 48%, down significantly from recent highs. Because ATM IV reflects the market\u2019s expected move, the decline suggests traders are no longer betting on an immediate price crash.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"Bitcoin\"](\"https:\/\/pbs.twimg.com\/media\/HBnltPEXIAEpbSk?format=jpg&name=4096x4096\")
<\/p>\n
Notably, this shift is reinforced by moves in DVOL, an indicator for measuring aggregate implied volatility expectations. Following initial spikes during the market liquidation in late January\/early February, DVOL has fallen by roughly 10 volatility points over the past two weeks, signaling that extreme hedging demand is easing out.<\/p>\n
In addition, the short-term volatility risk premium (VRP) has turned positive. Earlier this month, one-week VRP plunged to deeply negative levels at -45, as realized volatility far exceeded implied. Since then, implied volatility has repriced higher while realized volatility has stabilized, restoring a premium in short-dated options.<\/p>\n
Together, these metrics suggest that panic pricing is being reset, and expectations for outsized, volatile moves have declined.\n<\/p>\n
Bitcoin Traders Remain Alert To Downside<\/b><\/h2>\n
Despite the cooling in volatility expectations, other metrics show that traders are maintaining a defensive market position.<\/p>\n
For example, the Put skew, which measures the relative demand for downside protection versus upside exposure, remains quite heightened despite moving off the extreme hedge. After bottoming near the 7 volatility points, the one-week 25-delta skew has rebounded toward 14 vol. The recovery indicates that while extreme fear has subsided, demand for downside insurance remains firm.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"Bitcoin\"](\"https:\/\/pbs.twimg.com\/media\/HBnmaacXkAAoLrz?format=png&name=small\")
<\/p>\n
The taker flow data also tells a similar story. Puts represented two-thirds of last week\u2019s options activity, with outright put buying representing about 34% of total flow. The dominance of protective positioning suggests that market participants are not fully convinced the correction has run its course.<\/p>\n
In conclusion, the options market is signaling a more measured outlook, where expectations for immediate turmoil have faded, but traders are hedging to hedge against the risk of another downside.\u00a0 At press time, Bitcoin trades at $67,628 following a 0.92% gain in the last 24 hours.<\/p>\n
More data from Glassnode also shows that Dealers are broadly short gamma across a wide price range between $70,000 and $58,000, a positioning structure that could amplify selling pressure if Bitcoin extends losses. Conversely, a large gamma concentration around $75,000 suggests positioning for a potential rebound.<\/p>\n
![\"Bitcoin\"](\"https:\/\/www.tradingview.com\/x\/Est1BZFR\/\")
<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Bearish sentiments continue to dominate the Bitcoin market as the premier cryptocurrency looks to record a fifth consecutive monthly loss. Presently, prices are consolidating beneath the $70,000 mark, as market bulls struggle to force a decisive breakout above the resistance zone.\u00a0 Amid this choppy price action, data from the Bitcoin options market shows that traders […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":36427,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-36426","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-bitcoin"},"yoast_head":"\n
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