Bitcoin (BTC) Options Price 43.5% Implied Volatility for Nov. 4 Expiry

Bitcoin (BTC) options expiring Nov. 4 carried 43.5% implied volatility, above about 36% for later expirations, as options traders priced greater expected movement around the U.S. midterm vote.

Implied volatility comes from options prices and expresses expected volatility on an annualized basis. The 43.5% reading does not mean Bitcoin is expected to move that much before expiration, and it does not indicate a direction.

The latest figures extend TokenPost's earlier look at Bitcoin's pre-election options curve, published Oct. 26. Ether (ETH) options show a similar shape, with implied volatility expected to ease to about 36% by late November.

Bitcoin and Ether futures open interest was little changed over the previous 24 hours, at about $58 billion and $23.58 billion, respectively. The steady figures suggest traders are using options to hedge existing positions rather than adding futures exposure.

The Nov. 4 contracts are the nearest expiration in the figures.