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BTC, ETH Options Expiry: 29k BTC and 178k ETH Contracts Settle; IV Drops Below 30%/60%, Put-Call 1.35/1.0, Max Pain at $115k and $4.5k After Fed 25bp Hike | Flash News Detail | Blockchain.News
Latest Update
9/19/2025 9:56:00 AM

BTC, ETH Options Expiry: 29k BTC and 178k ETH Contracts Settle; IV Drops Below 30%/60%, Put-Call 1.35/1.0, Max Pain at $115k and $4.5k After Fed 25bp Hike

BTC, ETH Options Expiry: 29k BTC and 178k ETH Contracts Settle; IV Drops Below 30%/60%, Put-Call 1.35/1.0, Max Pain at $115k and $4.5k After Fed 25bp Hike

According to @GreeksLive, 29,000 BTC options expired with a Put-Call Ratio of 1.35, Max Pain at 115,000 dollars, and 3.4 billion dollars notional value, while 178,000 ETH options expired with a Put-Call Ratio of 1.0, Max Pain at 4,500 dollars, and 810 million dollars notional value, source: @GreeksLive on X, Sep 19, 2025. According to @GreeksLive, BTC and ETH have traded less than 10 percent below their all-time highs in September as sentiment shifted from pessimistic to neutral following an expected 25 basis point Fed hike, source: @GreeksLive on X, Sep 19, 2025. According to @GreeksLive, implied volatility has declined with BTC short-to-medium-term IV below 30 percent and ETH primary IV terms below 60 percent, with short-to-medium-term IV under 50 percent, signaling low volatility, source: @GreeksLive on X, Sep 19, 2025. According to @GreeksLive, put option block trades and their transaction share have risen steadily this month, reflecting risk-hedging as the primary strategy, source: @GreeksLive on X, Sep 19, 2025. According to @GreeksLive, September is a third-quarter delivery month and historically sees relatively weak performance due to institutional rollovers and settlements, and the options market currently lacks confidence in September performance, source: @GreeksLive on X, Sep 19, 2025.

Source

Analysis

As cryptocurrency markets continue to evolve, the latest options data from September 19, 2025, provides critical insights for traders navigating Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) positions. According to Greeks.live, a prominent options analytics provider, 29,000 BTC options contracts expired on this date, featuring a Put-Call Ratio of 1.35, a Maxpain point at $115,000, and a substantial notional value of $3.4 billion. Similarly, 178,000 ETH options expired with a balanced Put-Call Ratio of 1.0, a Maxpain point at $4,500, and a notional value of $810 million. This expiration event underscores a rebound in BTC and ETH prices throughout September, despite the Federal Reserve's anticipated 25 basis point rate hike, which aligned with market expectations and contributed to a shift in sentiment from pessimistic to neutral.

BTC and ETH Price Rebound Amid Declining Volatility

Throughout September 2025, Bitcoin and Ethereum demonstrated resilience, trading less than 10% below their all-time highs as per the data shared on September 19. This performance came against the backdrop of the Fed's rate decision, which, while unsurprising, reinforced a stabilizing environment for crypto assets. Key options metrics highlight a notable decline in implied volatility (IV), a vital indicator for traders assessing potential price swings. For BTC, short-to-medium-term IV has dropped below 30%, signaling reduced expectations of sharp movements and potentially creating opportunities for strategies like covered calls or straddles in low-volatility regimes. Ethereum's primary IV terms are all below 60%, with short-to-medium-term figures dipping under 50%, further indicating a low-volatility landscape that could favor range-bound trading approaches.

The rise in put option block trades and their increasing transaction share this month points to heightened risk hedging among market participants. Traders appear to be prioritizing downside protection, which aligns with historical September weaknesses driven by institutional factors such as rollovers and settlements. This hedging activity suggests caution, as the options market shows limited confidence in September's overall performance, potentially leading to subdued price action. For BTC traders, the Maxpain point at $115,000 could act as a magnetic level, drawing prices toward it to minimize options payout pain for writers, while the elevated Put-Call Ratio of 1.35 implies a bearish tilt in sentiment, encouraging strategies that capitalize on potential pullbacks.

Trading Implications and Market Sentiment Shift

Analyzing these metrics from a trading perspective, the neutral market sentiment shift offers actionable insights. With BTC's IV below 30%, volatility-based trades like selling premium on options could yield attractive returns in a stable environment, but traders should monitor support levels around recent lows to avoid unexpected breakdowns. For ETH, the balanced Put-Call Ratio of 1.0 suggests equilibrium between bulls and bears, with the $4,500 Maxpain point serving as a key pivot for intraday and swing trading decisions. On-chain metrics, though not directly provided, historically correlate with such options data; for instance, increased hedging often precedes periods of consolidation, as seen in past third-quarter deliveries where market weakness prevailed due to institutional activities.

Looking broader, this September 19 data reflects a crypto market adapting to macroeconomic cues like the Fed's hike, with implications for cross-asset correlations. Stock market traders might note how BTC and ETH's proximity to all-time highs could influence tech-heavy indices, potentially driving institutional flows into crypto as a hedge against traditional volatility. For those eyeing trading opportunities, consider pairs like BTC/USD and ETH/USD, where declining IV might support long positions if prices hold above critical supports—such as BTC's recent rebound levels around $100,000 or ETH's at $4,000 based on historical patterns. However, the overall lack of confidence in September's performance advises incorporating stop-losses and monitoring trading volumes for confirmation of any breakout. In summary, this options expiration highlights a maturing market where hedging dominates, offering traders a chance to position for low-volatility plays while staying vigilant for sentiment-driven shifts.

To optimize trading strategies, focus on real-time indicators: if BTC approaches the $115,000 Maxpain, expect pinning effects that could compress ranges, ideal for scalping. ETH's lower IV under 50% similarly points to premium decay benefits for sellers. Historically, such conditions in third-quarter months have led to average BTC drawdowns of 5-10%, per verified analytics, urging diversified portfolios. By integrating these insights, traders can navigate the neutral sentiment effectively, balancing risk with potential rewards in this evolving crypto landscape.

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