Bitcoin open interest hits record high as bulls stampede toward new BTC price highs

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Key takeaways:

  • Bitcoin futures open curiosity hit a file $72 billion, signaling rising use of leverage amongst institutional buyers.

  • $1.2 billion in shorts at $107,000 to $108,000 are prone to liquidation, boosting BTC’s breakout odds.

The combination open curiosity in Bitcoin (BTC) futures surged to a file excessive on Might 20, elevating questions on whether or not bearish positions are actually in danger. Regardless of repeated failures to interrupt above the $107,000 stage since Might 18, the sheer quantity of leveraged positions may propel Bitcoin to a brand new all-time excessive.

Bitcoin futures combination open curiosity, USD. Supply: CoinGlass

The total open interest in BTC futures climbed to $72 billion on Might 20, marking an 8% improve from $66.6 billion only a week earlier. Institutional demand continues to be a significant driver of this leverage, with the Chicago Mercantile Trade (CME) main at $16.9 billion in BTC futures, adopted by Binance, which holds $12 billion in open curiosity.

$1.2 billion in bearish BTC liquidations cluster at $107K–$108K

Based on CoinGlass estimates, the biggest focus of bearish BTC futures liquidations is clustered between $107,000 and $108,000, amounting to roughly $1.2 billion.

Bitcoin futures leverage heatmap, USD million. Supply: CoinGlass

Whereas it is unattainable to foretell what may spark a breakout above $108,000 to pressure these leveraged shorts to unwind, there’s rising optimism tied to rising considerations over United States fiscal debt. Uncertainty stays about how the federal government plans to realize financial progress whereas decreasing spending, particularly in mild of ongoing disagreement between Democratic and Republican lawmakers.

Extra importantly, yields on the 20-year US Treasury stay shut to five%, up from 4.82% two weeks earlier. Weak demand for long-term authorities debt might compel the US Federal Reserve to step in as the client of final resort to keep up market stability, reversing a 26-month development. This method places downward pressure on the US dollar and drives buyers to hunt different hedging methods, together with Bitcoin.

Gold dominates, however Bitcoin absorbs circulate amid reserve reallocations

Gold stays the dominant different asset, however its 24% year-to-date features in 2025 and $22 trillion market capitalization make it much less engaging to many buyers. For context, all the S&P 500 index is valued at $53 trillion, whereas US financial institution deposits and Treasury payments (M1) quantity to $18.6 trillion. In distinction, Bitcoin presently represents a $2.1 trillion asset class, roughly equal in measurement to silver.

In the meantime, some areas, notably the US, have begun laying the groundwork to shift parts of their gold reserves into Bitcoin — an motion that might simply propel BTC to a brand new all-time excessive. A modest 5% reallocation from gold into Bitcoin by these nations would translate right into a $105 billion influx, equal to 1 million BTC at a value of $105,000. 

Associated: Bitcoin ready to ‘vaporize’ shorts once price discovery above $110K begins

For perspective, Technique, the US-listed agency led by Michael Saylor, presently holds 576,230 BTC. There’s little doubt that institutional shopping for stays the first catalyst for Bitcoin to interrupt above the $108,000 stage. Such a transfer would set off the liquidation of closely leveraged bearish positions, doubtless accelerating the push to a brand new all-time excessive. Nonetheless, persistent macroeconomic uncertainty continues to weigh on total investor sentiment.

As Bitcoin flirts with the $107,000 mark, these holding brief positions face heightened danger of compelled liquidations — an final result that might additional gas upward momentum in value.

This text is for basic data functions and isn’t meant to be and shouldn’t be taken as authorized or funding recommendation. The views, ideas, and opinions expressed listed below are the creator’s alone and don’t essentially mirror or symbolize the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.