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Are Futures Traders Abandoning Ship? Surprising Trends Revealed



Bitcoin experienced a brief dip below $89,000 on Wednesday, following a failed attempt to rally past $93,500 in the previous session. The correction caught traders off guard and resulted in liquidations totaling around $144 million from leveraged bullish positions. Despite this short-term volatility, Bitcoin’s derivatives markets indicate ongoing resilience, suggesting a cautiously optimistic outlook amid prevailing macro headwinds.



  • Leverage metrics imply traders are taking protective measures, but overall market stress remains limited.

  • Bitcoin ETF outflows and weakness in the tech sector keep overall sentiment subdued, challenging the prospect of sustained gains above $89,000.

  • Bitcoin’s monthly futures premium remains near neutral, indicating balanced market expectations despite recent volatility.

  • Market participants exhibit caution, with stable funding rates and options skew suggesting no panic, but risk aversion persists.




Bitcoin’s price action retested the $89,000 level after an unsuccessful push to recover previous highs. The move surprised many traders and sparked liquidations estimated at $144 million from leveraged long positions. Nonetheless, derivatives market indicators show a stable setup, suggesting traders remain cautiously optimistic.

The monthly futures premium hovered near 4% on Wednesday, slightly below the 5% threshold often viewed as a neutral zone for market sentiment. Although some analysts noted a brief dip below that level when Bitcoin traded under $89,200, the aggregated data from major exchanges signals continued market confidence. A futures contract discount typically hints at excessive bearish confidence, but that doesn’t seem to be the case currently.

To gauge retail traders' sentiment, analysts look to perpetual futures, which tend to closely mirror spot markets. The funding rate remained around 4%, indicating a cautious stance but not panic. This suggests that traders are wary of downside risks without displaying signs of distress or capitulation.

Options market data further reinforces this outlook, with the delta skew at approximately 11%, implying traders continue to hedge against downside moves, though levels are far from extreme stress zones. Put options continue to trade at a premium over call options, signaling cautious mood among whales and market makers.

Recent net outflows from Bitcoin ETFs, totaling over $2.26 billion across five sessions, have added pressure, though they constitute less than 2% of the market. Meanwhile, broader risk-off sentiment pervades markets, as significant tech stocks and sectors—particularly those involved in artificial intelligence infrastructure—have declined sharply amid fears of economic slowdown and weakening U.S. job data. The tech sector, which has seen values fall 19% or more, reflects the broader risk sentiment spilling over into the crypto markets.

Additionally, the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, concerns over inflation, and retail sector warnings, such as Target’s profit outlook reduction, compound the uncertain macroeconomic landscape. These factors diminish confidence in a swift recovery for Bitcoin, making its future trajectory closely tied to evolving economic conditions and Fed policy decisions.

While Nvidia’s upcoming earnings could influence the market, some analysts question the strategic value of its AI investments, adding to the cautious tone. The path for Bitcoin reclaiming $95,000 remains linked to macroeconomic improvements, with traders keeping a close watch on how broader financial conditions unfold.

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