Crypto Options Unplugged

In this episode, Imran and David host Chantal Bradford from Deribit's institutional sales. They delve into Deribit's new altcoin options for XRP, SOL, and MATIC, and discuss recent platform improvements that appeal to institutional clients. Chantal shares her enthusiasm for the growing crypto options market and the promising future of ETF options in the U.S. David highlights encouraging macro trends, while Imran points out significant changes in ETH call skew, advising cautious optimism as certain key targets are achieved.h

In this week’s episode, Imran and David host special guest Manvir Nijhar, ex-head of UK equity derivatives at SocGen. Manvir is an active trader of crypto options on Deribit and gives some insight into the type of strategies he employs to profit from crypto volatility. As always, David gives his rundown on the macro forces that are supporting the latest move and Imran breaks down the key options flows that are moving the vol surface. David’s conclusion is to not fight the flows as the supply vs demand imbalance in Bitcoin is getting even worse as MicroStrategy raise more debt for BTC purchases. Imran remains well hedged for a correction but questions at what point hedges need to be reduced.

In this week's podcast, Imran and David talk about the surging crypto prices ahead of the April Bitcoin halving. Despite profit-taking concerns, David remains bullish. Imran speculates on ETH's continued outperformance, citing a potential spot ETF approval in the Summer, and mentions bullish options flows. The discussion concludes with Imran sharing preferred hedging structures for a prudent approach in the current overbought market.

In this week’s episode: Imran and David explore the Bitcoin price surge driven by increased ETF inflows and anticipation of the upcoming "Bitcoin halving." They discuss macro factors affecting crypto, including hotter-than-expected inflation data. Imran analyzes option flows, emphasizing their impact on crypto volatility and ETH gamma positioning changes.

In this podcast episode, Imran and David discuss the recent blowout non-farm payrolls data that has led to a shift in US rate cut expectations. David explains how the regional banking crisis may be re-emerging due to the refinancing needs on commercial real estate loans and how it is likely to impact FED policy. Imran analyses the recent collapse in crypto volatility and identifies some trading opportunities to either play a Lunar New Year Bitcoin rally or ETH medium term upside.

In this podcast episode, Imran and David discuss the continuation of Bitcoin ETF inflows that has helped catalyse the 10% bounce in the last week. David explains recent macro developments and why he holds the view that the Federal Reserve will cut rates in March , a move that will support crypto markets for the rest of the year. Imran questions whether ETH option dealer positioning will prove to be a resistance to strong gains in the near-term, as BTC once again leads the optimism in the space. They both still agree that ETH has the potential to vastly outperform Bitcoin this year, but short term option dynamics could be a headwind despite some analyst calling for an ETF approval by 23 May.

In this podcast episode, Imran and David delve into the recent decline in cryptocurrency prices, exploring the factors influencing this market move and how investors are hedging against it. They also analyze recent developments in interest rates markets and examine the broader macroeconomic landscape's impact on the short and long-term prospects of cryptocurrencies. Imran breaks down the dynamics of cryptocurrency volatility, highlighting the resurgence of ETH call overwriters and their significant impact on ETH volatility pricing. The episode concludes with key insights and strategic considerations for positioning oneself for potential future outperformance of Ethereum later in the year when ETH ETFs become a reality.

Episode 1: Get ready for an explosive 2024 as Imran and David discuss the current crypto setting in this debut episode. Explore the trends shaping the market and gain insights into potential opportunities and risks.