Bitcoin Has Stabilized, But Investors Are Paying Up for Downside Protection: VanEck

March 21, 2026

in Web3

Reading Time: 3 mins read

Briefly

Bitcoin volatility is down, however knowledge exhibits that merchants are defending in opposition to strikes to the draw back.
The amount of bets on Bitcoin happening, in comparison with these on it going up, is at a mark not seen since 2021.
Nonetheless, this stage of “defensiveness” has usually signaled {that a} backside is close to.

Bitcoin’s volatility has dropped as its worth has stabilized round $70,000, however merchants are nonetheless paying up for draw back safety, in keeping with a brand new report from funding agency VanEck.

Bitcoin’s realized volatility, or volatility based mostly on precise noticed worth actions, has fallen from 80 to 50 over the previous month, VanEck notes. However regardless of stabilizing costs, merchants are nonetheless cautious and are paying massive premiums to keep up positions that pay when Bitcoin goes down.

“Merchants proceed to pay vital premiums for draw back safety,” the report reads. “Whole premiums paid to buy places declined 24% month-over-month, however at $685 million over the previous 30 days, they continue to be above 77% of month-to-month observations for the reason that begin of 2025.”

In different phrases, whereas the overall greenback quantity paid to make bets on Bitcoin happening has decreased, it’s nonetheless considerably above typical month-to-month ranges.

“Regardless of declining volatility, buyers proceed allocating vital capital towards hedging draw back danger,” VanEck wrote.

Not solely are complete premiums at vital marks, however the put/name ratio—which compares the volumes of bets on Bitcoin happening to these of Bitcoin going up—jumped as excessive as 0.84 and averaged 0.77. VanEck says these marks are the very best since 2021, and point out “unusually sturdy demand for draw back hedging relative to bullish positioning.”

However reduction may be hiding within the knowledge for Bitcoin bulls.

“When choices markets have been this fearful prior to now, Bitcoin has tended to get better,” the report reads. “The present stage of defensiveness, whereas warranted by latest worth motion, has traditionally marked durations nearer to market bottoms than tops.”

Moreover, long-term holders parting methods with their BTC “seems to be slowing” as Bitcoin transfers amongst holders of at the very least 1 12 months and above fell month-over-month.

The highest crypto asset has dropped practically 1% within the final 24 hours, however stays up greater than 5% within the final month, not too long ago altering palms at $69,891.

At that stage, it nonetheless sits practically 45% off its all-time excessive mark of $126,080 set final October.