Bybit x Block Scholes: BTC fell after touching $88K but bearish derivatives trend holds

Bybit x Block Scholes: BTC fell after touching $88K but bearish derivatives trend holds
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2025-04-01

DUBAI, UAE, April 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Bybit, the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, released the latest weekly crypto derivatives analytics report in collaboration with Block Scholes. The report provides insights into macroeconomic developments, the state of crypto spot and derivatives markets, and emerging trading signals.

Key insights

Since bottoming out on March 11, crypto asset prices have climbed steadily over a two-week period, with BTC briefly surpassing $87,000 and ETH recovering above $2,000. XRP has remained relatively stable, while BTC, ETH, and SOL continue to trade below their year-opening levels. SOL, which hit an all-time high in January following Cboe's Solana Spot ETF filing, also remains down year-to-date. While the broader market has shown signs of recovery, derivatives activity reflects lingering caution. Demand for BTC and ETH put options remains elevated, signaling ongoing hedging behavior.

Cautious rebound in perpetuals

Perpetual open interest stayed flat for most of the week, underscoring a cautious, risk-off tone. A brief market rebound saw BTC rise to $88,000 — a two-week high — triggering modest increases in perpetual trade volume, primarily driven by BTC. Still, volumes remain significantly below those recorded earlier this month, when U.S. President Donald Trump proposed a national crypto reserve centered on the four largest tokens.

Funding rates suggest persistent bearish sentiment

Despite lower realized volatility and positive price movement among major assets, BTC and ETH perpetual contracts continued to post negative funding rates. This indicates that short sellers are still paying long positions, an ongoing sign of bearish sentiment. In contrast, large-cap altcoins showed more mixed positioning, with funding rates fluctuating between positive and negative without a clear directional bias.

Volatility retreats to yearly lows

Implied volatility declined by 3 to 5 points over the past week, with 30-day options now trading at their lowest levels since the beginning of the year. Realized volatility is also nearing the 30% floor last seen in February. As typically observed in low-volatility periods, options market activity has slowed, with open interest remaining low and relatively balanced between puts and calls. Around $40 million in options expired during the week.

Access the full report

For detailed insights, readers may download the full report .

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About Bybit

Bybit is the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving a global community of over 60 million users. Founded in 2018, Bybit is redefining openness in the decentralized world by creating a simpler, open and equal ecosystem for everyone. With a strong focus on Web3, Bybit partners strategically with leading blockchain protocols to provide robust infrastructure and drive on-chain innovation. Renowned for its secure custody, diverse marketplaces, intuitive user experience, and advanced blockchain tools, Bybit bridges the gap between TradFi and DeFi, empowering builders, creators, and enthusiasts to unlock the full potential of Web3. Discover the future of decentralized finance at Bybit.com.

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