Bitcoin above $120k: Here’s 3 data points bulls must watch next

Bitcoin price is again above $120,000, and the market has clear data to learn as an alternative of simply vibes.

Spot pushed by way of the important $120,000 stage on Oct. 2 with a detailed close to $120,606 after a +5.5% climb from Sept. 29, and it’s holding the extent at this time even with a small give-back. The spike in spot worth isn’t an remoted act.

Bitcoin ETFs printed two straight days of heavy web creations, roughly $676 million on Oct. 1 and $627 million on Oct. 2, proper after a messy stretch of outflows round Sept. 25–26.

At the identical time, futures and choices rebounded shortly into October: BTC futures open curiosity rose from $77.22 billion on Sept. 29 to $88.52 billion by Oct. 3, whereas choices OI climbed from $41.58 billion to $52.06 billion. Volume adopted by way of, with futures turnover leaping from $48.59 billion on Sept. 29 to $111.22 billion on Oct. 2, and alternate exercise choosing up mid-week.

That mixture of spot demand by way of creations, recent derivatives publicity, and heavy turnover units the stage for additional upside in This autumn.

The late-September ETF shakeout issues as a result of it reset positioning after which flipped shortly to creations. When you get back-to-back days above $600 million in web inflows, the first market absorbs cash and forces licensed individuals to supply BTC.

That tightening reveals up in worth quicker than it reveals up in headlines. It additionally adjustments intraday liquidity: spreads typically compress when creations are lively and arbitrage turns right into a two-way road once more.

If the movement stays web optimistic by way of next week, the spot facet received’t want heroics from perpetuals to maintain $120,000; it simply wants the creation machine to maintain grinding.

The rise in futures OI throughout the identical window is not only shorts masking, as OI doesn’t add +$11.3 billion in 4 classes with out new positions. Pair that with the spike in quantity (back-to-back $100+ billion days on Oct. 2–3 throughout listed venues) and you’ve got the basic “add threat into power” tape.

Options inform the identical story: +$10.5 billion in OI since Sept. 29 pushes sellers into bigger hedging bands, which might dampen intraday swings round key strikes and, relying on the distribution, pin worth close to high-gamma areas. If $120,000-$122,000 accumulates open curiosity into next week, anticipate stickier worth motion when the market approaches these ranges till a brand new block of calls or places clears the trail.

Funding is the third leg, and the final week reveals a transparent flip in premiums. Perp funding ran unfavorable on Sept. 27–28 (-0.12% and -0.07% day by day), then turned optimistic and accelerated into October: +0.20% on Sept. 29, +0.63% on Sept. 30, +0.38% on Oct. 1, peaking at +0.79% on Oct. 2 and holding a high +0.67% on Oct. 3.

The 7-day common sits round +0.35% per day, however the final three prints common a a lot hotter +0.61%.

Combined with the +$11.3 billion rise in futures OI, it means longs are paying up, and leverage is layering on. That’s optimistic so long as ETF creations preserve pulling cash and the spot-futures foundation widens in an orderly method.

If creations fade whereas funding stays this elevated, the carry turns right into a tax on longs, they usually develop into susceptible to quick imply reversion or a clean-out. If creations keep optimistic, the market can digest these funding ranges with out forcing a squeeze.

So what truly issues for worth from right here?

First, the ETFs. The late-September outflows confirmed distribution, whereas the reversal on Oct. 1 confirmed recent demand was again. If day by day totals maintain within the $200-$400 million vary, $120,000 ought to commerce like a ground extra usually than a ceiling.

Second, the spot–futures foundation. The leap in futures OI with spot power is constructive so long as the premise doesn’t get crowded. A foundation that widens progressively is gas for orderly up-moves; a foundation that spikes whereas ETF movement cools is a warning that carry is over-owned.

Third, choices positioning into mid-October. The market simply rebuilt $10+ billion of OI in a couple of days; if that focus settles round a slender strike band, anticipate extra “magnet” worth motion and low realized volatility till a catalyst breaks the pin.

If you retain these three dials in view, there’s a clear market construction learn for This autumn. Creations inform you whether or not actual cash are leaving the open market. Futures OI and foundation inform you how a lot leverage is layered on prime and the way secure it’s. Options OI and vendor gamma inform you the place intraday ranges tighten or break.

Right now, the learn is constructive: worth reclaimed $120,000 with back-to-back ETF creations, futures threat was added relatively than unwound, and choices depth is thickening. If funding stays orderly and web creations don’t roll over, dips into the low-$120,000s ought to entice patrons.

If creations stall whereas funding climbs and foundation gaps widen, anticipate choppier tape and quicker imply reversion. This autumn begins with the board tilted to the upside, however the scoreboard to watch is creations, foundation, and the choices bands that now wrap round $120,000.

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