Bitcoin’s current setup creates an interesting risk-reward situation for bulls

2 years ago

The Bitcoin (BTC) illustration has formed a symmetrical triangle, which presently holds a choky scope from $28,900 to $30,900. This signifier has been holding for astir 2 weeks and could perchance widen for different 2 weeks earlier terms makes a much decisive movement.

Bitcoin/USD 12-hour terms astatine Kraken. Source: TradingView

For those unfamiliar with method analysis, a symmetrical triangle tin beryllium either bullish oregon bearish. In that sense, the terms converges successful a bid of little peaks and higher lows. The decisive infinitesimal is the enactment oregon absorption breakthrough erstwhile the marketplace yet decides connected a caller trend. Thus, the terms could interruption retired successful either direction.

According to Bitcoin derivatives data, investors are pricing higher likelihood of a downturn, but caller improvements successful planetary economical position mightiness instrumentality the bears by surprise.

The macro script has improved and BTC miners are staying busy

According to Cointelegraph, macroeconomic conditions driven by the United States helped thrust crypto markets higher connected May 23. Before the marketplace opened, United States President Joe Biden announced plans to cut commercialized tariffs with China, boosting investors' morale.

According to the latest estimates, Bitcoin's network trouble volition trim by 3.3% astatine its adjacent automated readjustment this week. The alteration volition beryllium the largest downward displacement since July 2021 and it’s wide that Bitcoin's downtrend has challenged miners' profitability.

Still, miners are not showing signs of capitulation adjacent arsenic their wallets' movements to exchanges deed a 30-day debased connected May 23, according to on-chain analytics level Glassnode.

While miners' sentiment and flows are important, traders should besides way however whales and marketplace markers are positioned successful the futures and options markets.

Bitcoin derivatives metrics are neutral-to-bearish

Retail traders usually debar quarterly futures owed to their fixed colony day and terms quality from spot markets. However, the contracts' biggest vantage is the deficiency of a fluctuating backing rate, hence the prevalence of arbitrage desks and nonrecreational traders.

These fixed-month contracts usually commercialized astatine a flimsy premium to spot markets due to the fact that sellers are requesting much wealth to withhold colony longer. This concern is known technically arsenic "contango" and is not exclusive to crypto markets. Thus, futures should commercialized astatine a 5% to 15% annualized premium successful steadfast markets.

Bitcoin 3-month futures’ annualized premium. Source: Laevitas

According to the supra data, Bitcoin's ground indicator has been beneath 4% since April 12. This speechmaking is emblematic of bearish markets, but the information that it has not deteriorated aft the sell-off down to $25,400 connected May 12 is encouraging.

To exclude externalities circumstantial to the futures instrument, traders besides person to analyse Bitcoin options markets. The 25% delta skew is highly utile due to the fact that it shows erstwhile Bitcoin arbitrage desks and marketplace makers are overcharging for upside oregon downside protection.

If enactment investors fearfulness a Bitcoin terms crash, the skew indicator volition determination supra 12%. On the different hand, generalized excitement reflects a antagonistic 12% skew.

Bitcoin 30-day options 25% delta skew: Source: Laevitas

The skew indicator moved supra 12% connected May 9, entering the "fear" level arsenic options traders overcharged for downside protection. Moreover, the caller 25.4% was the worst speechmaking ever registered for the metric.

Related: Bitcoin targets grounds 8th play reddish candle portion BTC terms limits play losses

Be brave erstwhile astir are fearful

In short, BTC options markets are inactive stressed and this suggests that nonrecreational traders are not assured successful taking downside risk. Bitcoin's futures premium has been somewhat resilient, but the indicator shows a deficiency of involvement from leveraged agelong buyers.

Taking a bullish stake mightiness look contrarian close now, but astatine the aforesaid time, an unexpected terms pump would instrumentality nonrecreational traders by surprise. Therefore, it creates an absorbing risk-reward concern for Bitcoin bulls.

The views and opinions expressed present are solely those of the writer and bash not needfully bespeak the views of Cointelegraph. Every concern and trading determination involves risk. You should behaviour your ain probe erstwhile making a decision

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