Yeliz Akmaca 
Crypto derivatives exchange Deribit announced that $3.1 billion worth of Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) options contracts will expire tomorrow, May 16, 2025, at 14:00.
Deribit Options Expiry and Critical Levels
Deribit is a leader in the crypto derivatives market. Tomorrow’s expiry includes $2.66 billion in Bitcoin and $525 million in Ethereum options. Bitcoin’s maximum pain point (max pain) is at $100,000. This level indicates the price at which investors would incur the most losses. The max pain level is the price at which the highest number of call and put options would expire worthless, and the market often drifts toward this point. For Ethereum, the maximum pain point is $2,200. As a result, prices may gravitate toward these levels. Traders are adjusting their positions accordingly. Analysts note that such large options expiries typically cause short-term price volatility.
Bitcoin’s Put/Call ratio is 0.99, indicating a nearly neutral sentiment. This suggests investors are undecided between bullish and bearish expectations. However, Ethereum’s Put/Call ratio is 1.24, signaling that investors anticipate a price decline and are acting cautiously. ETH traders are more conservative than BTC traders, hedging against downside risks. Historical data shows that such major expiry dates lead to 5-7% price volatility in 60% of cases. Investors should remain vigilant, especially heading into the weekend.
🚨 Options Expiry Alert 🚨
Tomorrow 08:00 UTC: Over $3.1B in BTC & ETH options expire on Deribit.$BTC: $2.66B notional | Put/Call: 0.99 | Max Pain: $100K
$ETH: $525M notional | Put/Call: 1.24 | Max Pain: $2,200BTC skew is neutral, ETH puts slightly outweigh calls. Price… pic.twitter.com/jBj4C4tMvX
— Deribit (@DeribitOfficial) May 15, 2025
Additionally, large expiries trigger market fluctuations. Maximum pain points highlight prices where most contracts would expire worthless. Investors closely monitor these levels. Institutional players may solidify their positions during the expiry. Macroeconomic news or regulatory developments could further impact volatility.
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