Why Do Crypto Traders Watch Open Interest?
Price tells us where a cryptocurrency is trading, but it doesn’t reveal how heavily traders are positioned in derivatives markets. Open interest measures the total number of outstanding futures or options contracts and can provide another perspective on market activity. Rising open interest alongside a strong price move may indicate that more leveraged positions are entering the market, while a sharp decline can occur when positions are closed or liquidated. It isn’t a standalone indicator of whether prices will rise or fall, but it can help investors understand how much leverage is building up behind a move. Should open interest become a standard metric for anyone analysing crypto markets?
