As Bitcoin (BTC) steadies after reaching historic highs last week, Ethereum (ETH)$ETH
and altcoins are charging ahead with renewed momentum.
๐ Over the past 7 days, ETH has surged more than 20%, reclaiming its leadership role in the market. Major altcoins like XRP$XRP
, Cardano (ADA), Dogecoin (DOGE), and Stellar (XLM) have followed closely behind, posting double-digit gains.
โณ Options Expiry Alert: Nearly $6B on the Line
Today, July 18, marks a critical expiry for crypto options contracts โ a regular Friday event that often brings short-term volatility.
๐ According to Deribit data:
$4.95 billion in BTC options are set to expire
$880 million in ETH options are also on the table
Hereโs what the metrics say:
BTC Put/Call Ratio: 0.78
Max Pain Point: $114,000
ETH Put/Call Ratio: 1.04
Max Pain Point: $2,950
The "max pain point" represents the price level where the most options traders face losses โ a spot that often acts like a magnetic target for market forces.
๐ As the expiry approaches, expect sharp movements. With BTC currently trading above $114,000 and ETH above $2,950, some speculate whales or institutions may steer prices closer to these pain points.
๐ง Institutions Are Entering โ FOMO Builds
According to analysts from Greeks.live, Ethereum is driving this leg of the bull market โ and it's reshaping market sentiment fast.
"Ethereum is leading the recovery of altcoins. The uptrend has continued with no significant correction, fueling optimism and new inflows,โ analysts said.
They further noted:
Institutional interest is rising rapidly
Call (bullish) options are gaining popularity
The market is nearing FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) levels
๐ With institutions adjusting positions and altcoins thriving under ETHโs lead, momentum is clearly favoring the bulls.
๐ก Final Thoughts
As the crypto market braces for a potential volatility spike following today's massive options expiry, all eyes remain on BTCโs $114K and ETHโs $2,950 levels.
Whether itโs a trap or a launchpad โ this week could set the tone for the rest of July.