Recent data emerging from the crypto futures market reveals an intriguing trend among traders, who seem to be demonstrating a growing preference for stablecoin-backed collateral.
Evolution in Bitcoin Futures Landscape
The Bitcoin futures market has been undergoing dynamic shifts, notably in the last couple of years. The year 2021, during the unprecedented bull market run, saw crypto-margined Bitcoin futures contracts dominate at 70%. However, as of 10 August, this figure has shrunk drastically to a mere 23%. Such statistics highlight the expansive growth of the Bitcoin futures market, and it has become an instrument of choice among institutional investors, particularly in South Africa. Frequently, experts and analysts utilise futures data to anticipate upcoming BTC price shifts and comprehend overarching market sentiments.
Prominent on-chain specialist, Will Clemente, leveraged social media platform, Twitter, to spotlight this captivating shift in the Bitcoin futures world. Using Glassnode’s exhaustive data, Clemente pointed out the consistent wane in the volume of crypto-collateralized open BTC futures contracts spanning the previous two years.
Deciphering the Shift towards Stablecoin Collateral
Understanding the futures contracts mechanism, these instruments let traders predict Bitcoin’s price fluctuations without the need to physically possess the asset. Typically, there are two primary crypto derivatives for traders โ crypto-collateralized and stablecoin-collateralized contracts.
The former, also known as coin-margined contracts, hold appeal for long-haul investors. They get settled in the relevant cryptocurrency, which in this context is Bitcoin, enabling them to HODL without transitioning their assets into stablecoins.
Contrastingly, contracts anchored by stablecoins like Tether (USDT) cater predominantly to traders with a short-term horizon, furnishing a shield against the crypto market’s notorious volatility.
Consequently, the current tilt towards leveraging stablecoin collateral underscores an anticipation of reduced liquidation cascades โ events that occur when an abrupt bullish or bearish shift compels the liquidation of positions, triggering a domino effect that can destabilize the entire market.
Market Mood Turns Cautious
As of this writing, Bitcoin’s value stands at $29,417, a slight retreat after its $30,000 position on 9 August, as per CoinMarketCap. This fluctuation heavily informs the decision-making of futures traders.
Coinglass data suggests a noticeable tilt: traders aiming to capitalise on declining prices have overtaken those betting on bullish trends, pushing the Longs/Shorts Ratio to favour bearish leveraged traders. For South African investors, understanding these shifts is crucial to navigate the constantly evolving crypto landscape effectively.
