#binance #hype #zec #near
03/03/26 05:41 UTC-04

Demand for Bitcoin Futures Falls to 2024 Lows. Are Institutions Leaving?

  • Demand for Bitcoin futures has dropped to its lowest level since 2024, reflecting growing caution among institutional traders.
  • High open interest on CME indicates that major institutions remain active.

Bitcoin ($BTC) rose 10% after retesting $63,000 on Saturday, but bulls cannot ignore the decline in open interest (OI) in Bitcoin futures to the lowest level since August 2024 (491,300 $BTC). In dollar terms, the metric has corrected by 20% over the past month, down to $32 billion.


Source: CoinGlass.

Part of this dynamic is explained by forced long liquidations. Demand for leverage has been absent since the all-time high of $126,200 was reached in October.

The annualized premium on one-month futures contracts (basis) fell to its lowest level in a year — 2%. Under neutral conditions, the indicator typically ranges between 5% and 10% to compensate for the longer settlement period.

More concerning is the fact that the basis failed to remain at bullish levels over the past 12 months, despite a 50% price increase from April to May 2025.


Two-month futures basis dynamics. Source: Laevitas.ch.

Options markets are not showing signs of stress seen in recent months. The put-to-call ratio remains around ~0.7, reflecting lower demand for downside hedging. A spike in demand for bearish strategies at the end of last week proved short-lived.


Put-to-call ratio dynamics. Source: Laevitas.ch.

Are Institutions Leaving?

Bitcoin’s relatively weaker performance compared to gold and equities may have reduced interest. At the same time, $7.5 billion in CME Bitcoin futures open interest signals ongoing institutional participation.

There is no evidence of institutional exit, as daily trading volumes in Bitcoin ETFs remain above $3 billion.

More than $79 billion worth of Bitcoin is held in the corporate treasuries of Strategy, MARA Holdings, XXI, and Metaplanet.

Bhutan, El Salvador, and the United Arab Emirates have also increased their Bitcoin holdings.

It can be argued that institutional adoption still has a long way to go, but the current situation is far from the starting point.

See also: "Bitcoin Slows Advance Toward $67K Amid Tensions With Iran"

#Bitcoin (BTC) #Futures

Editor: Godfrid Brower
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