Bitcoin rally restores confidence, but futures open interest lags
- —Bitcoin rose 35% from August lows near $63,500 to $83,000–84,000
- —BTC-denominated futures open interest fell nearly 20% to about 625,000 BTC
- —On August 19, 2026, 85% of liquidations hit shorts, cutting open interest by 11%
- —In early October BTC traded between $82,000 and $85,000 as open interest stabilized
Why it matters: Lower leverage reduces the risk of liquidation cascades but limits the potential for sharp rallies without fresh capital inflows.
Source: Crypto Briefing