# Bitcoin Futures Split as Leveraged Funds Add Shorts, Managers Add Longs

By Enna Lee

Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/investing/24761
Published: 2026-09-28T06:19:58.000Z
Updated: 2026-09-28T06:19:58.000Z
Section: Investing

> Leveraged funds were net short 7,953 contracts as of Sept. 22, while asset managers held a net long position of 3,171 contracts.

Bitcoin futures positioning moved in opposite directions as of Sept. 22, with leveraged funds deepening their net short position while asset managers increased their net long exposure.

Leveraged funds held 4,745 long contracts and 12,698 short contracts, resulting in a net short position of 7,953 contracts. Their net short position grew by 1,599 contracts from the previous report as they reduced long positions by 800 contracts and added 799 short positions.

Asset managers held 4,962 long contracts and 1,791 short contracts, leaving them net long 3,171 contracts. Their net long position increased by 411 contracts after they added 434 long contracts and 23 short contracts.

Total Bitcoin futures open interest rose to 22,315 contracts from 20,773 previously, an increase of 1,542 contracts. Open interest measures outstanding futures positions but does not show whether the positions are hedges or directional trades.

Each standard CME Bitcoin futures contract represents 5 Bitcoin (BTC). The 1,599-contract weekly change in leveraged funds’ net short position therefore equals 7,995 BTC of futures exposure. That calculation does not establish that funds bought or sold 7,995 BTC in spot markets.

CME Bitcoin futures are cash-settled against the CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate. A futures short does not by itself prove that a fund sold Bitcoin in the spot market, and a futures long does not reveal an institution’s broader portfolio strategy.

The positioning data is a Tuesday snapshot of reported futures open interest. It does not identify the funds or asset managers involved and does not disclose offsetting positions in spot Bitcoin, exchange-traded funds or other derivatives.