Bitcoin selloff meets $1.89B options expiry as bears gain control

Bitcoin and Ethereum faced a tense options expiry on June 5 as crypto markets traded near multi-month lows, while Middle East ceasefire hopes moved oil and gold markets before fresh doubts returned.

About 25,600 Bitcoin options expired on June 5, with a notional value of $1.62 billion, according to Greeks.live data. The batch carried a put-call ratio of 0.56 and a key max pain level near $70,500.

Bitcoin traded far below that level after a sharp weekly slide. BTC briefly approached $60,000 during the selloff, leaving many short-term options away from their expected settlement zones.

Ethereum also faced options expiry pressure. About 155,000 ETH options expired, with a put-call ratio of 0.92, a max pain level near $2,000, and a notional value of $270 million.

Together, BTC and ETH expiries reached about $1.89 billion. The event was smaller than the prior end-of-month expiry, but it came during one of the weakest weeks for digital assets in months.

Bitcoin bears dominate as hedging demand rises

Greeks.live said Bitcoin’s drop below $70,000 made bearish traders more active earlier in the week. Put positions increased around $68,000, $65,000, and $60,000 as traders moved to protect against more losses.

The firm said short-term volatility also rose as prices fell. Skew turned negative, meaning the market paid more attention to downside protection than upside exposure.

In its June 5 update, Greeks.live said price action pushed both BTC and ETH far from their max pain levels. It also said weak conditions reduced market interest, while attention moved toward U.S. stocks.

The firm added that the market was not making large one-way crash bets. Instead, it said demand for active hedging had increased. Greeks.live said, “The best strategy is not to gamble on a rebound, but to reduce risk.”

Ceasefire hopes move oil and gold

The crypto selloff also came as global markets reacted to Middle East developments. Israel and Lebanon agreed to implement a ceasefire on June 4, raising hopes that pressure around Iran talks could ease.

That news quickly moved commodities. Oil prices fell more than 3% on hopes that a broader deal could support a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil flows.

Gold also reacted as the dollar and bond yields moved lower after the ceasefire reports. The move showed that traders viewed the announcement as a possible step toward lower regional risk.

The relief did not last cleanly. Hezbollah later rejected the agreement, while Israel said it would not withdraw troops from Lebanon. That kept concerns alive around U.S.-Iran talks and energy supply routes.

Crypto market watches capital flows

Crypto markets entered the expiry with weak momentum. Bitcoin hovered near the bottom of its recent range after a slide that erased large gains from the prior week.

Ether also traded under pressure after falling toward 14-month lows. Broader crypto market value dropped sharply during the week as traders cut risk across Bitcoin, Ethereum, and major altcoins.

Separate crypto.news market updates have kept Bitcoin’s $60,000 support zone in focus as traders weigh ETF flows, whale activity, and falling risk appetite. The same backdrop has made options positioning more important for short-term market direction.

For now, the market is watching whether capital returns after the expiry. A move back above $63,000 could ease immediate pressure for Bitcoin, while another break toward $60,000 could keep bearish positioning active into the weekend.

Ethereum faces a similar test below its $2,000 options level. A recovery above that zone would improve short-term sentiment. Failure to regain it could keep sellers focused on lower support areas.

The main question now is whether the expiry clears pressure or confirms deeper weakness. Traders are watching BTC’s $60,000 line, ETH’s $2,000 level, and macro signals from oil, gold, and U.S. stocks.