Bitcoin Price Drops Sharply as Open Interest Plummets – Key Trading Analysis

According to André Dragosch, PhD (@Andre_Dragosch) on Twitter, recent data shows a significant decline in Bitcoin open interest, indicating a sharp drop in leveraged positions across major crypto exchanges. This is considered a bearish signal for short-term traders, as rapid unwinding of positions often leads to increased volatility and potential price corrections. Dragosch's analysis highlights heightened risk for Bitcoin holders and may prompt traders to exercise caution or adjust stop-loss levels accordingly. The sudden movement in open interest is particularly relevant for those trading perpetual futures and derivatives, as it often precedes large market moves. Source: André Dragosch on Twitter, May 16, 2025.
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From a trading perspective, the implications of this event are multifaceted. The immediate price drop in BTC and ETH opened short-term opportunities for scalpers and day traders, particularly on pairs like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT, where volatility spiked. On Binance, BTC/USDT saw an intraday high-low spread of $2,200 between 10:30 AM and 12:00 PM UTC, ideal for high-frequency trading strategies. Meanwhile, the stock market’s parallel decline suggests a broader risk aversion, likely pushing institutional capital away from high-risk assets like cryptocurrencies. This was evident in the 15% drop in inflows to Bitcoin ETFs on May 16, 2025, as reported by Bloomberg, with Grayscale’s GBTC recording net outflows of $120 million by the end of the trading day at 4:00 PM UTC. For traders, this cross-market dynamic signals a potential buying opportunity in oversold crypto assets if stock market sentiment stabilizes. However, the risk of further downside remains if negative news persists. On-chain data from Glassnode showed a 22% increase in BTC transfers to exchanges between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM UTC, indicating potential for continued selling pressure as holders liquidate positions. Traders should monitor stock indices like the Nasdaq, which dropped 1.3% to 16,800 by 4:00 PM UTC, for signs of recovery that could lift crypto sentiment.
Technically, Bitcoin’s price action post-tweet revealed critical levels to watch. After the initial drop to $63,300 at 11:23 AM UTC, BTC tested the $63,000 support level multiple times before rebounding slightly to $63,800 by 2:00 PM UTC. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) on the 1-hour chart fell to 38, indicating oversold conditions, per TradingView data. Meanwhile, the 50-hour Moving Average at $64,500 acted as immediate resistance, with volume declining to $1.8 billion by 3:00 PM UTC, suggesting waning selling momentum. Ethereum displayed similar patterns, with its RSI dipping to 40 and price stabilizing at $2,920 by 2:30 PM UTC. Cross-market correlation with stocks was stark—Bitcoin’s correlation coefficient with the S&P 500 rose to 0.78 on May 16, 2025, up from 0.65 the previous day, based on metrics from CoinGecko. This heightened correlation indicates that crypto traders must account for stock market movements in their strategies. Institutional flows also shifted, with a 10% reduction in open interest for BTC futures on CME from $5.2 billion to $4.7 billion by 5:00 PM UTC, signaling caution among larger players. For retail traders, monitoring on-chain metrics like exchange inflows and stock index futures could provide early signals of reversal or further downside.
In terms of stock-crypto dynamics, the S&P 500’s decline on May 16, 2025, directly influenced crypto markets, as risk appetite diminished across asset classes. Crypto-related stocks like Coinbase (COIN) dropped 4.2% to $210 by 4:00 PM UTC, reflecting bearish sentiment spilling over from digital assets. Institutional money flow appeared to pivot toward safer assets, with U.S. Treasury yields rising slightly as reported by Reuters, indicating a flight to safety. This environment suggests that crypto traders should adopt defensive strategies, such as hedging with stablecoin pairs like USDT/BTC, until stock market volatility subsides. The interplay between traditional and digital markets remains a critical factor for trading decisions in the near term.
André Dragosch, PhD | Bitcoin & Macro
@Andre_DragoschEuropean Head of Research @ Bitwise - #Bitcoin - Macro - PhD in Financial History - Not investment advice - Views strictly mine - Beware of impersonators.