ChainCatcher reports that the on-chain options market has reached a record high in trading volume over the past two weeks, with $44 million in the first week of February and $28 million in the last week of January. Currently, over 80% of the trading volume is concentrated on the Ithaca and Derive protocols, which handled $26 million and $11 million respectively last week, while the third-place Overtime recorded only $2 million.
The reasons for the surge in trading volume remain uncertain. Possible factors include the decline of USDT lending annualized yields on Aave to around 2%, reducing its attractiveness; and market anticipation for the upcoming HIP-4 market launch by Hyperliquid. Noted DeFi trader Route 2 Fi recently posted on X platform that the 2% USDT annualized yield on Aave has become unappealing, sparking widespread discussion in the community and indicating that some users are actively seeking alternative investment channels with higher returns.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
ETH drops 0.76% in 15 minutes: Dual pressure from whales’ proactive deleveraging and ETF fund outflows
Between 07:15 and 07:30 (UTC) on 2026-04-19, the ETH spot price fluctuated in the 2298.13 to 2322.69 USDT range, with an amplitude of 1.06% and a return of -0.76%. During this period, market attention increased; the sharp drop in price triggered widespread user focus, along with a clear surge in trading volume within a short time, indicating a sudden escalation in liquidity pressure.
The main driver behind this deviation is that on-chain whale accounts actively sold ETH to repay DeFi platform borrowings in order to avoid forced liquidation. Based on on-chain tracking and fund-flow monitoring, from April 18 to 19, more than 42,000 ETH per-transaction large transfers were rapidly sent into a certain mainstream exchange, and at the same time there was a sharp spike in net inflows to the exchange. This concentrated sell pressure directly weakened spot market prices. Under proactive deleveraging behavior, selling pressure was released in the short term, creating a sudden market shock.
In addition, during the period of price deviation, the ETH derivatives market saw a significant rise in passive liquidation volume, especially as leveraged long positions encountered strong liquidations during the price decline, further increasing supply pressure in the spot market. Meanwhile, ETH spot ETF funds continued to see net outflows; in mid-April, there were multiple days with single-day outflows exceeding $40-50M, with the largest single day reaching $200M. This reflects a warming of short-term institutional risk-avoidance sentiment, which led to a deeper shift downward in buy-side liquidity depth. The launch of a new public chain ecosystem also attracted some ETH liquidity migration, further weakening the capital protection layer of the mainnet. Multiple structural feedback effects amplified the downside move.
At present, leverage risk in the ETH market remains prominent. Some whales still have large borrowings outstanding; if the price continues to move downward, potential liquidation risks may flare up again. ETF fund flows, on-chain large transfers, and capital-attraction moves tied to the new-chain ecosystem all need close monitoring. With increased short-term volatility risk, it is recommended to watch key support zones, exchange net inflow indicators, and DeFi on-chain liquidation dynamics in order to promptly grasp the latest market signals.
GateNews43m ago
RAVE Liquidations Exceed $50.8M in 24 Hours Amid 100%+ Daily Volatility
RAVE saw $50.85 million in liquidations in 24 hours, with long positions at $27.53 million and shorts at $23.32 million. The largest liquidation was $105,352, with significant price swings and high trader activity.
GateNews1h ago
ETH drops 0.58% in 15 minutes: derivatives liquidity contraction and proactive position reduction dominate short-term pullback
From 2026-04-19 04:30 to 2026-04-19 04:45 (UTC), within ETH’s 15-minute candlestick chart, the return recorded -0.58%, and the price range was 2321.62 to 2342.04 USDT, with an amplitude of 0.87%. The short-term selloff occurred against a backdrop of increased overall market volatility and a broad decline in the prices of major crypto assets; overall market risk appetite clearly fell, and traders’ wait-and-see sentiment strengthened.
The main driver behind this abnormal move is a sharp contraction in liquidity in the derivatives market and leveraged funds proactively reducing positions. Data shows that over the past 24 hours, the ETH/USD perpetual contract trading volume dropped 67.16% to approximately 74.87 million, open interest edged down 3.33% to 329 million, and liquidation amounts did not expand unusually. This structure indicates that the market lacks the risk of passive cascades; more funds chose to proactively step aside and wait on the sidelines, intensifying short-term selling pressure.
In addition, the long/short structure in which shorts held the upper hand (long/short ratio 47.48%:52.52%) and sentiment synchronization with the panic range reinforced the downward price trend. During the same period, major coins such as BTC and SOL also fell 2%-3.4% in tandem, further showing that this pullback was driven by system-wide risk sentiment. On-chain funds did not show any large abnormal transfers or large-scale liquidations of DeFi protocols; spot and on-chain liquidity remained generally stable, and no sudden system risk resonance was observed.
Current volatility-related risks still need close monitoring, especially as overall risk appetite continues to contract—ETH’s short-term price may face further downside probing. Watch subsequent changes in derivatives trading volume and open interest, extreme shifts in the long/short ratio and funding rate, and promptly monitor on-chain fund flows, large transfers, and any signs of amplified platform net outflows. For more market anomalies and deeper analysis, please continue to follow our upcoming market updates.
GateNews3h ago
Bitcoin Swings on Hormuz Strait Reports, Triggering $762M in Liquidations
Bitcoin rose to $78,000 but dropped to $76,091 following reports of tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's actions triggered $762 million in liquidations among traders, with implications for crypto markets as Iran accepts payments in bitcoin and other currencies to navigate sanctions.
GateNews8h ago
Solana Price Stalls Near $80 as ETF Outflows Weigh
Solana trades around $80, facing bearish sentiment due to ETF outflows and declining retail participation. Technical indicators show mixed signals, with resistance at $87 and $98, while support at $77 remains critical for stability.
CryptoFrontNews9h ago
XRP Consolidation Signals Reset as Bullish Setup Emerges
XRP has recently rebounded to $1.39 after trading between $1.20 and $1.40 due to improved market sentiment. A significant drop in futures open interest reflects reduced speculation, while technical indicators suggest a potential bullish breakout, targeting $1.50 and possibly $1.80.
CryptoNewsLand14h ago