Bitcoin Shorts Accumulating on Binance and Deribit
Data reveals that cryptocurrency exchanges Binance and Deribit have experienced an increase in Bitcoin shorts in recent days. This trend, as highlighted by analytics firm Santiment, is reflected in the funding rate, which measures the fee that derivative contract holders are paying on these platforms.
A positive funding rate indicates that long traders are paying a premium to hold their positions, suggesting a bullish sentiment. Conversely, when the rate falls below zero, it signifies a bearish sentiment dominated by short traders.
Bitcoin Funding Rates on Binance and Deribit
Looking at the chart for Bitcoin funding rates on Binance and Deribit over the past month, there was a rebound earlier in the month. However, sentiment has since shifted as shorts have accumulated on both platforms.
Despite this increase in short positions, the value of Bitcoin has continued to grow. Historically, the market has often moved against the expectations of the majority, which may explain this pattern.
This divergence between market sentiment and Bitcoin’s performance could be attributed to potential short squeezes. When a market becomes one-sided, mass liquidation events can occur, leading to amplified crashes or upward surges. The current aggressive shorting of Bitcoin suggests the possibility of a short squeeze that could further drive its price up.
Ethereum Funding Rates and Price Comparison
Interestingly, while Bitcoin is being bet against, Ethereum’s funding rates remain positive. Analyst James V. Straten points out this discrepancy in a post on X.
The graph shows that Bitcoin and Ethereum’s funding rates have recently moved in opposite directions. This means that while BTC may benefit from building an uptrend from shorts, ETH could face the opposite effect if longs are liquidated.
Bitcoin Price
Today, Bitcoin has experienced a 1.5% drawdown, with its price dropping to around the $26,700 level.
Hot Take: Bitcoin Shorts Accumulate While Price Holds Strong
The accumulation of Bitcoin shorts on Binance and Deribit suggests a bearish sentiment among traders. However, despite this increase in short positions, the value of Bitcoin has continued to rise. This divergence between market sentiment and price performance may indicate the potential for a short squeeze, which could further drive up Bitcoin’s price. In contrast, Ethereum’s positive funding rates highlight a different trend in the market. As Bitcoin faces shorting, Ethereum could face the opposite effect if longs are liquidated. Overall, these developments suggest an interesting dynamic in the crypto market.