Bitcoin OGs Selling Covered Calls is the Source of Sideways Market: Analyst

Long-term Bitcoin (BTC) whales selling covered calls, a strategy of selling call options that give the buyer the right but not an obligation to purchase an asset in the future at a predetermined price in exchange for the seller collecting a premium, is suppressing spot BTC prices, according to market analyst Jeff Park.

Large, long-term BTC holders, also known as “whales” or “OGs,” introduce a disproportionate amount of sell-side pressure through this covered call strategy, partly because market makers are on the other side, buying the covered calls, Park said.

This means that the market makers must hedge their exposure to buy the calls by selling spot BTC, forcing market prices down, despite strong demand from traditional exchange-traded fund (ETF) investors.

Because the BTC used to underwrite the options has been held for a long time and does not represent new demand or fresh liquidity, the calls act as a net downward pressure on prices. Park said:

“When you already have the Bitcoin inventory that you’ve had for 10-plus years that you sell calls against it, it is only the call selling that is adding fresh delta to the market — and that direction is negative — you are a net seller of delta when you sell calls.” 

The analysis concluded that Bitcoin’s price is being steered by the options market and that price action will remain choppy as long as whales continue to extract short-term profits from their Bitcoin stash by selling covered calls.