$27B Bitcoin, Ethereum Options Expiry Today: Here’s What to Expect

December 26, 2025

News
  • $27B crypto options expired on Deribit, with BTC near $88K and ETH $2,950, signaling potential market volatility and key resistance levels ahead.

  • Bitcoin eyes $100K if $90K breaks, ETH struggles below $3K, while XRP and SOL show mixed signals after major options expiry.

Around $27 billion worth of Bitcoin, Ethereum options expired today on Deribit, one of the world’s largest crypto options exchanges. Bitcoin is trading near $88,000, while Ethereum is hovering close to $2,950, as traders brace for possible volatility. 

With such a large amount of contracts settling at once, the expiry could have a massive impact on the crypto market

Bitcoin accounts for the biggest share of today’s expiry, with over $23.6 billion in BTC options rolling off. Data from Deribit shows 268,000 option contracts settled at the same time, clearing a major amount of risk from the market in a single session.

Despite the size of the expiry, trader positioning still leans positive. The put-to-call ratio stands at 0.38, which means more traders were betting on higher prices than lower ones. 

The “max pain” level, where most option holders would see losses, was near $96,000. This level often acts like a price magnet around expiry, even if briefly.

Over the past few weeks, Bitcoin has remained stuck in a tight range, repeatedly testing both sides. Crypto analyst Michael van de Poppe noted that sellers have failed to push BTC below $86.5K, showing strong buyer support. 

However, every move above $90K has been rejected, highlighting heavy selling pressure at that level.

bitcoin chart

Analysts say $90,000 is the key barrier. A clear breakout above it, backed by strong volume, could restore bullish momentum and open the path toward the $100,000 mark.

Ethereum is also under the spotlight, with nearly $4 billion in ETH options expiring. Although ETH has seen small price gains, traders remain cautious rather than confident. The max pain level sits near $3,100, keeping pressure on the price.

Ethereum has once again failed to hold above the key $3,000 level, which is worrying traders. Crypto analyst Ted noted that unless ETH clearly moves back above $3,000, the risk of another drop stays high.

If the price falls below $2,800, selling pressure could increase quickly. Below that, the next strong support lies around $2,600, $2,500, where buyers stepped in during earlier sell-offs.

ethereum price chart

XRP options show continued pressure, with traders closely watching the $1.80 support level. A break below this could lead to further downside.

Solana shows a more balanced picture. Options data remains neutral, and SOL has already seen a small recovery around $123. 

As 2026 approaches, this option’s expiry could act as an important turning point for the token.

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What happens when Bitcoin and Ethereum options expire?

When options expire, contracts settle, removing market risk and often causing short-term price volatility in BTC and ETH.

How does a large options expiry affect crypto prices?

A massive expiry clears a large amount of market risk at once, which can increase short-term volatility. The “max pain” price often acts as a temporary magnet, but the overall trend depends on broader market sentiment.

How do crypto option expiries impact other tokens like XRP and Solana?

Large expiries can influence market sentiment, affecting XRP support at $1.80 and Solana’s price recovery around $123.

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