 March 12, 2021  Everything you need to make sense of the crypto markets and beyond Sponsored By:  By the CoinDesk Markets Team Edited by Lawrence Lewitinn If you were forwarded this newsletter and would like to receive it, sign up here. Bitcoin (BTC) +0.6% $56,395 Ether (ETH) -0.3% $1,769 (Price data as of Mar. 12 @12:20 UTC) Good morning. Here's what we're writing about:
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MARKET MOVES by OMKAR GODBOLE Bitcoin's Put-Call Ratio Hits 9-Month High, But That's Not Necessarily Bearish Bitcoin is currently trading near $56,395, having narrowly missed challenging the record high of $58,332 on Thursday, according to CoinDesk's Bitcoin Price Index. The pullback seen today could be associated with the jittery traditional markets. The U.S. 10-year yield has risen back to 1.6%, strengthening the dollar and pushing the European equities lower.  Bitcoin prices, Mar. 11 to Mar. 12, 2021 (CoinDesk) Bitcoin's put-call open interest ratio, which measures the number of put options, or bearish bets, open relative to calls, or bullish bets, is rising. However, that does not imply traders are positioning themselves for a drop in the market.
The ratio jumped to 0.91 on Thursday, the highest level since June 26, 2020, according to data provided by the crypto derivatives research firm Skew.  Bitcoin put-call open interest ratio (Source: Skew) The metric has been rising since the beginning of the year. The spike, however, may have been fueled by increased put selling, which is usually done when the market is expected to consolidate or rally.
Bitcoin's one-month implied volatility, or investors' expectations for price turbulence over four weeks, spiked to record levels in early January, boosting options prices and remained elevated above its lifetime average of 100% (annualized) until last week.
Traders, therefore, had a strong incentive to sell put options at high prices during that bull run. Volatility essentially represents uncertainty and has positive impact on options prices. The one-month implied volatility is now hovering below 100%.
Open interest only tells us the number of calls and put contracts that are active, or open, at a given point in time and does not reveal whether investors are buying call/put options or selling (known as “writing” in options markets).
The way the options are currently priced actually suggests bullish bias in the market. One-, three- and six-month put-call skews, which measure the cost of puts relative to calls, are hovering in negative territory, implying greater demand for bullish calls compared to puts. Indeed, the put-call skews have recovered from the bull market depths seen earlier this year and options market recently saw some put buying. Again that does not imply a bearish mood, as traders often buy put options as a hedge (protection) against bullish or long positioning in the spot or futures.
Lastly, the put-call open interest ratio is closing on parity, which means the market is heading toward neutral positioning. All-in-all, the spike in the put-call open interest ratio shouldn't be a cause for concern for the bulls. However, a continued rise in the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield may play spoilsport.
The yield has risen back to 1.6% today, making the U.S. dollar more attractive as an investment and putting a downward pressure on equities and other competing investments. Bitcoin fell sharply in the last week of February, as yields spiked, triggering risk aversion in traditional markets. --Omkar Godbole
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TECHNICIAN'S TAKE by DAMANICK DANTES Bitcoin (BTC) is holding support above its 50-day volume weighted moving average, but the cryptocurrency faces resistance around $58,000. Upside momentum is slowing, with initial support around $52,000 on the 4-hour chart.  4-hour price chart shows resistance around $58,000 with lower support around the 50-period volume weighted moving average (Source: TradingView)
--Damanick Dantes Original story found here: Bitcoin Battles Resistance Near All-Time-High as Possible ‘Double Top’ Looms: Technical Analysis
BIGGEST MOVERS These are the biggest movers in the CoinDesk 20 over the past 24 hours:
Gainers:
Losers:
The CoinDesk 20 filters from the larger universe of thousands of cryptocurrencies and digital assets to define a core group of 20. These assets constitute roughly 99% of the market by volume at eight of the largest and most trustworthy exchanges.
BOLO Be on the lookout for these events today:
ICYMI In case you missed it, here is yesterday's episode of First Mover: Market Moves and Binance News with Changpeng ‘CZ’ Zhao Changpeng "CZ" Zhao, CEO of Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange, discusses big developments in crypto markets and his latest move into DeFi. U.S. Representative Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) on his and other lawmakers' proposals for clearer crypto regulations. Plus the latest from Singapore-based Diginex after going public with a crypto exchange in the U.S.
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