Bitcoin derivatives markets experienced significant volatility following Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election on November 5.
Open interest in Bitcoin futures skyrocketed from $39 billion on election day to $60.9 billion as of Nov. 22, according to Coinglass data, sparking a surge in trading activity and market speculation.
The sharp increase in open interest reflects a growing appetite for Bitcoin derivatives, with traders and institutions strengthening their positions in anticipation of further price gains. Analysts at Bitfinex believe that this increase in leveraged trading is organic and points to optimism rather than immediate risks of a market correction.
Bitfinex analysts said the increase in open interest was in line with expectations of future price increases. “Leverage accumulation is a common tool for traders, including institutions, to position for anticipated price movements,” they noted.
They added that the recent drop in Bitcoin price to $93,000, as well as the slight decrease in open interest, was a natural market reaction. “The price retesting the $93,000 region was a normal pullback and we do not view the recent leverage accumulation as anything out of the ordinary,” the analysts said.
The surge in Bitcoin derivatives trading has been attributed in part to market sentiment surrounding Trump’s presidency. Bitget CEO Gracy Chen said Trump’s victory played a role in fueling optimism.
“The increasing leverage in the market proves that investors are starting to value the market based on technical and regulatory developments,” Chen said. Chen added that Trump’s presidency is thought to have fostered a more favorable environment for Bitcoin, which has strengthened market sentiment and pushed open interest to new highs.
However, Chen also warned that Bitcoin’s volatility could potentially trigger price corrections in the form of long squeezes, which he explained could help stabilize the market if leverage levels become excessive.
*This is not investment advice.
