Bitcoin Retreats Below $90,000 Ahead of $23.7 Billion Options Expiry

Bitcoin Retreats Below $90,000 Ahead of $23.7 Billion Options Expiry

Analysts expect upward momentum as a record $23.6 billion Bitcoin options expiry approaches, with a bullish skew and max pain pegged at $96,000.

BTC

Fact Check
The assessment is based on strong, consistent evidence from multiple high-authority sources that corroborate both parts of the statement. First, the claim that Bitcoin's price fell below $90,000 is directly supported. A CoinDesk report and a Yahoo Finance article both state that Bitcoin fell below $88,000, which is logically below $90,000. Another report from The Block mentions Bitcoin's price "slipping" in the same context. The plausibility of this price level is further supported by a Yahoo Finance page quoting an all-time high above $126,000.Second, the claim of a large Bitcoin options expiry event is also overwhelmingly confirmed. Crucially, two sources (one from The Block, another from Yahoo Finance) explicitly state the value of this event as "$23.7 billion," matching the figure in the statement perfectly. Other highly credible sources report a similar, massive expiry event valued between $27 billion and $28.5 billion, which serves as strong corroborating evidence for an event of this scale.While one source from CoinMarketCap presents a conflicting all-time high of ~$65,000, which would make the statement impossible, this is a single outlier. It is heavily outweighed by the multiple, consistent, and more detailed reports from specialized financial news outlets like CoinDesk, The Block, and Yahoo Finance. The minor discrepancies in the exact dollar value of the options expiry across different reports are common in financial reporting and do not undermine the core truth of the event. Therefore, the combined evidence strongly supports the statement as true.
Summary

Bitcoin has slipped below $90,000 ahead of an unprecedented options expiry worth $23.6 billion, the largest in its history, set for Friday. Analysts note a bullish skew in positioning, with the max pain level at $96,000, raising expectations for upward price pressure. The expiry comes amid thin holiday liquidity, which could heighten volatility.

Terms & Concepts
  • Options Expiry: The date when Bitcoin options contracts mature and are settled, often triggering increased market volatility.
  • Max Pain: A price level at which the greatest number of options expire worthless, potentially influencing price movement near expiry.
  • Liquidity: The degree to which Bitcoin can be traded quickly without causing significant price fluctuations.