Learn all about Master Traders in crypto copy trading and how to choose the best Master Trader to maximise your profits even as a novice trader.

 is one of the best ways for traders to emulate the success of established traders and earn profits on par with these market gurus. A well-established strategy in traditional finance, copy trading has also proved itself to be a popular tool in the crypto market. In copy trading, there is perhaps no element more important than choosing the right Master Trader. This choice will make or break your crypto copy trading. Read on to learn all about copy trading and Master Traders to get the most out of your trading.

Copy trading is a popular trading strategy whereby a novice trader or follower replicates orders placed by an established trader with a track record of positive returns, known as a Master Trader. You can choose to manually copy a Master Trader’s strategy, or simply use automated software to copy their orders. For example, 

 for easy and flexible automated crypto copy trading where you can freely communicate with top-tier Master Traders.

Copy trading is often compared to — or even confused with — mirror trading, which is largely a similar strategy in which you precisely follow the market moves of an established trader in an automated fashion. The key difference between copy trading and mirror trading is that the former leaves you room for applying your own customization and judgment when replicating the market moves of your chosen trader. 

Meanwhile, mirror trading mandates following the trader’s moves exactly, even when you disagree with a particular order or strategy.

With copy trading, beginners can become profitable even without deep knowledge of the market and trading methodologies. It’s also a great time saver, as nearly all of it is automated, and relies on the established trader’s moves. Copy trading, similar to other automated trading strategies, also removes the element of emotion from your decisions and performance.

An experienced trader who would like to share their knowledge and trading strategy with others can become a Master Trader. In doing so, they also earn additional profits from their dedicated followers, since no one acts as a copy trading master without being reimbursed for it.

Currently, Bybit supports crypto copy trading only for the Derivatives markets. Traders whose strategies are followed earn 10% fees on profits generated by their followers.

A Master Trader is a trader whose strategies and moves are being copied by others, known as followers. Master Traders have a track record of great performance and positive returns. You wouldn’t want to copy their trades otherwise, would you? They don’t necessarily need to be the biggest names in the market, or have millions of traders following them on social media. Massive fame and celebrity-like status are, thankfully, not a requirement. Great Master Traders often maintain low profiles but deliver results in terms of profitability and 

The primary profit source for Master Traders in copy trading comes from the fees charged on their followers’ returns. Because copy trading is automated, attributing the profits earned by a follower to a specific Master Trader is easy. As noted above, 

In addition to this main profit source, Master Traders also benefit from their activity indirectly by creating a follower base, a great reputational benefit for any trader.

Choosing a good Master Trader (MT) is undoubtedly going to be the key element in your copy trading strategy, particularly if you’re a novice trader. 

You can copy up to ten Master Traders at the same time. However, the settings for each MT are different and independent. It's worth noting that the performance of both USDT Perpetual Trades and Trading Bots created via Copy Trading will be considered when ranking MTs. 

To begin, familiarize yourself with the six categories on the 

 page, tailored to different risk appetites: 

Grasping these distinctions can help you align your risk appetite with the trading approaches of the top MTs, resulting in a smoother copy trading journey and higher chances of success.

 category appeals to those seeking significant short-term returns. Master Traders in this group have achieved the highest ROI in the past seven and 90 days, indicating that they may possess excellent trading skills or have made some high-risk, high-reward trades. However, it's essential to recognize that high short-term ROI doesn't necessarily guarantee long-term sustained profitability.

If you're looking at long-term consistent profitability, the section entitled 

Traders With the Highest Profit for Followers 

showcases Master Traders who have earned the highest profits (in USDT) for their followers and maintained a positive ROI over the past 90 days. Consistent profitability indicates that these MTs could produce reliable profits. 

Nevertheless, past performance doesn't guarantee future results, and you should still exercise caution by assessing each Master Trader's abilities and the risks involved.

 section caters to those interested in day trading. MTs in this group are intraday traders who have achieved an ROI of over 20% and a win rate of more than 50% over the past seven days. Their high returns within a short period — coupled with a higher success rate — suggest that they possess good market insights and quick decision-making abilities suited for intraday trading. Note that the fast-paced nature of day trading comes with inherent volatility, which results in substantial losses if trades don’t move in the anticipated direction.

category is ideal. It consists of Master Traders who have achieved an ROI of over 10% and a maximum 

 of 20% in the past 30 days. These MTs typically demonstrate better risk management strategies and capital management abilities, making them more attractive to conservative traders who prioritize preserving their capital. Nevertheless, it’s still crucial to be aware that, while risks may be mitigated, they aren't fully eliminated, so you may still incur losses.

 category caters to people seeking consistency and balance in risk and return. MTs in this category have actively traded for more than 30 days and achieved a positive 30-day ROI. To verify their consistency, the MT should not have an inactive badge (which is placed on a trader who hasn't opened a position in the Past seven days or traded in the past 14 days). Note that following MTs who demonstrate consistent risk and reward isn’t a foolproof plan as they still face potential losses.

 category are new Master Traders (who might be experienced, but are new on the 

 page). These traders have traded for less than 30 days and achieved a positive 7-day ROI. Calculated risk-takers who are constantly on the hunt for new opportunities will find this category exciting. Naturally, new MTs lack a proven track record, so you’ll need to evaluate each one carefully before choosing an MT from this category.

Tips on Choosing the Best Master Trader for You

While Bybit already helps you filter top traders according to your risk appetite, it’s also important to understand the metrics used to rank the performance of Master Traders in order to make an informed decision when choosing a Master Trader.

It’s not recommended that you simply follow popular MTs with a higher follower count (and even higher cumulative profits) without considering other metrics. This is because an MT's popularity doesn't indicate reliability or guarantee future success. Instead, it’s advisable to balance the popularity indicator with actual performance metrics, as outlined below. 

Total Profit = Current Account Equity − Previous Account Equity − Total Deposits + Total Withdrawals

 (UTA), ROI is calculated in a similar way, but the Total Profit is determined using a more complex formula: 

Total Profit = Realized PnL + Funding Fee Income − Trading Fee + Current Unrealized PnL − Previous Unrealized PnL

While these metrics may offer comprehensive details of an MT's performance, the following criteria are more universally understood and effective for evaluating performance at a glance.

Typically presented as a percentage, ROI indicates an MT's return on an investment. Various factors are considered when calculating the ROI, including the total profit and account equity (wallet balance + unrealized PnL). Unrealized PnL includes positions held in USDT Perpetual trades and Trading Bots. To gauge if a trader has consistent profitability, review their ROI for the past 7, 30 and 90 days.

Win rates reveal an MT's ability to close trades profitably. However, it’s critical to balance win rates with ROI to ensure that an MT’s emphasis on small, frequent wins doesn’t impact their overall profits.

This term refers to the consistency and predictability of a Master Trader's drawdowns over time. In the context of copy trading, it indicates the trader's ability to manage risks in order to prevent erratic or excessively large equity declines. As a follower, especially if you’re risk averse, a lower and stable maximum drawdown (the largest percentage drop from a peak) reflects careful risk management. 

A Master Trader's trading consistency and activity are also crucial factors when making a decision on whose trades to copy. Thus, it’s important to focus on an MT's performance over the past 7, 30 and 90 days. Since the crypto market is highly volatile, it’s essential to establish if the MT has consistently sustained profits across changing market conditions. 

Key factors to consider include the following.

: Metrics like average weekly trades or holding times can determine the aggressiveness or conservativeness of a trader's approach.

: Consider ROI volatility metrics to assess how stable or risky the MT’s returns are.

Becoming a Master Trader on Bybit is a form of investing. You not only get to promote your investing strategy, but you can share in the profits earned by your followers for copying your trading strategy. 

To become a Master Trader on Bybit, you'll need a 

 (either the standard Subaccount, or the Unified Trading Subaccount). 

 that the Unified Trading Subaccount only allows Master Traders to conduct USDT Perpetual trading, while you can trade a variety of other products with a standard Subaccount (which your followers won’t copy).

Once you’ve successfully applied, you'll need to complete new Master Trader missions in the mission center. Completing these missions allows you to be featured on the 

Once you've completed the compulsory missions, you'll enter into Bybit's Master Trader Level System, which is categorized into four tiers: 

. As you gain more followers, you'll be upgraded to the next tier. The higher your level, the greater the perks you unlock. 

There's also a Master Trader Level evaluation, which is done once you complete the required tasks and pass a review by Bybit. You'll be rated based on your account balance, 30-day cumulative profit and maximum drawdown in the past seven days. 

Copy trading is a great way for novice crypto traders to become profitable from Day One of their trading activities by following an established Master Trader. More experienced followers can also improve their returns and save time by adopting copy trading. For Master Traders, copy trading represents a great avenue for additional profits. Thus, no matter your trading experience or success rate, you can reap significant benefits from copy trading.

Beginner

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How to Choose a Master Trader to Magnify Profits (Complete Guide)

A crypto trading competition is a contest where traders do their best to earn the highest return on their investment. Discover the benefits of joining one here!

Competitions aren’t only about winning, though rewards are definitely an attractive boon. Rather, they serve the important purposes of seeing how well you stack up with others and pushing yourself to improve in a wide variety of ways. Honing your skills is particularly helpful during a crypto bull market, a time where traders might see more gains than losses. Moreover, the rewards given out during a crypto trading competition will definitely help you capitalize on the bullish trend. But before you join a crypto trading competition, it’s important to understand what the contests entail and the specific benefits that you can expect.

A crypto trading competition is a contest sponsored by a broker or its affiliates where traders do their best to earn the highest return on their investment. Both the initial investment amount and the contest time period are moderated during the contest.

As you get better acquainted with crypto market trading competitions, you will find both live and demo contests offered by various exchanges and platforms, including Bybit. Live contests use real trading accounts and real assets, and demo accounts are used for demo contests. 

Contest participants may need to meet specific requirements, such as having a minimum amount of assets in their account or having other qualifications. The specific rules for these contests and how winners are determined vary as well. Some contests, for example, may limit the markets that the participants can trade in. For a trader to get the most out of a crypto trading contest, the contest should use or simulate actual 

The length of these competitions may vary from 24 hours to more than two weeks. Winners may receive cash or crypto prizes in many cases, and prizes are usually disbursed at the end of the contest even if daily prizes are awarded.

Benefits of Joining a Crypto Trading Competition

During a bull market, many crypto traders may be eager to invest. They may have already enjoyed significant financial gains, or may be excited about the potential for further profits as the crypto market trends upward.

In the current bull market, there are great opportunities for traders to generate profits and enjoy other benefits. By participating in a crypto trading competition, you could take advantage of the significant benefits that contribute to your potential success in exciting ways. What are the top benefits of crypto trading competitions?

In a bull market, asset values are higher than average, and traders have positive sentiments about the market. Your own trading activity may increase as well because of the trading gains that you’ve experienced and a decreased aversion to risk. 

However, the prizes for a crypto trading competition can also be significant. Often, these contests have multiple winners, and this expands your opportunity to gain financially from your participation. Your crypto trading competition winnings can augment your trading gains in the bull market and motivate you to continue to look for opportunities for financial gain.

Crypto traders can gain a significant amount of knowledge by reading about trading activities and strategies, but nothing compares to the value of real-life experience. Live trading allows you to test your knowledge and strategies, and these experiences can guide your future trading activities. Competitions in the current market uptrend may be particularly advantageous as they can open your eyes to opportunities that exist in real life rather than in theory.

Whether you are a new crypto trader with untested skills or you are looking for ways to improve your skills and increase gains, refining your trading skills is essential. Upgrading your trading skills and strategies can elevate your confidence. Confidence may soar in a bull market, so boosting your confidence can help you to make trading decisions based on knowledge and experience rather than on emotion.

By checking out some of the winner boards for previous crypto trading competitions, you’ll undoubtedly see impressive gains that may seem unattainable to you. After all, during a bull market, traders tend to make larger or riskier trades to maximize their gains. However, a crypto trading competition may inspire you to be more aggressive with your trading strategies than you may be without unnecessarily exposing yourself to potential losses.

You know what your real-life returns on trading in the crypto market have been, but how do you compare to other traders? A crypto trading competition holds many factors steady, such as markets you can trade in and the amount of your starting investment. A competition makes it easier to make an apples-to-apples comparison with other traders. Do you want to know how you stack up to people in your investment group? Simply get them to participate in the competition to find out. In addition, you will have bragging rights if you win the competition.

Managing risk and mitigating exposure to loss are important aspects of success in crypto trading regardless of the market conditions. Still, you may wonder if you are being too conservative with your trading strategy. If you participate in a trading competition, you can learn about the actual risks and rewards for strategies that you may otherwise not be inclined to try. A crypto trading competition also gives you the opportunity to test different risk management strategies and to compare your results with others to see how your strategies stack up.

You may have developed a trading strategy that works well for you based on your established trading activities, but can you replicate the same results with other types of crypto assets? In a crypto trading competition, you can test your strategy under different parameters. By doing so, you may be able to fine-tune your strategy so that it is even more profitable in a market uptrend or to prepare yourself for a bear market down the road.

Encourage You to Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

The most successful people often place emphasis on getting out of their comfort zone. They have come across great opportunities by moving away from what is familiar and known, which could hold true for you in the crypto market. A crypto trading competition exposes you to new trading strategies, and it encourages you to think creatively to improve rather than stay in a comfortable rut. As a result, you could see greater results from your crypto trades by getting involved in competitions from time to time.

Bybit has hosted several prominent crypto trading competitions in recent years. These competitions have provided traders with excellent opportunities to earn prizes and hone their crypto trading skills. In addition, they have been able to test new strategies and compare their strategies with other traders. What are some of the most notable trading competitions hosted by Bybit recently?

 (World Series of Trade) was once again hosted by Bybit in 2024, with a total prize pool of 10,000,000 USDT. Competitions at WSOT 2023 included a Squad Showdown, Copy Trading Fest, Buddy Rally and 

 USDT each, while the prize pool for the 

was 1,000,000 MNT. In addition, Bybit contributed to the 

75 ETH to sponsor Ethereum’s first Attackathon

 to support the growth of the crypto industry. The WSOT 2024 broke its previous records 

with over 77,000 traders from 161 countries generating $100 billion in trading volume. 

 is an event with monthly trading competitions designed to test and reward traders' skills throughout the year. Users can trade any Derivatives contract, including USDC contracts, and win exclusive prizes such as BTC and USDT. The event also shines the spotlight on five of the biggest events of 2024: Wish Upon a Bitcoin, BTC Halving Event, VIP Grand Prix Series 3, VIP Gala 2024 and Bybit’s 6th Anniversary. 

SEA Games Derivatives Trading Competition

 features two main events, the Squad Trading Volume Competition and Squad PnL (%) Trading Competition, with a total prize pool of 120,000 USDT, held from May 8, 2024, 10AM UTC to May 31, 2024, 10AM UTC. For the Squad Trading Volume Competition, squads were ranked based on their Derivatives trading volume. On the other hand, squads participating in the Squad PnL (%) Trading Competition were ranked based on their Derivatives trading PnL (%). In addition, participants who have made their first-time deposits of at least $100 via P2P during the event received a $10 airdrop at the end of the competition.

Bybit hosts several crypto trading tournaments throughout the year for traders to compete. These competitions present crypto traders with great opportunities to test their strategies, refine their skills, win lucrative prizes and take advantage of other benefits. Whether you're looking to boost your trading prowess or enjoy exclusive perks, joining a Bybit trading competition can be a highly rewarding and enriching experience.

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Benefits of Joining a Crypto Trading Competition During a Bull Market

Where will SOL go after reaching a new ATH?

 reached a new all-time high in mid-November 2024 as recent developments in the Solana ecosystem and support from its community strengthened the market's confidence in SOL's outlook. Some of the most actively traded tokens in the market, such as 

, MUSTARD and FATHA, are all based in Solana’s strong community. Data from DefiLlama shows that the monthly trade volume of DEXs on Solana reached $100 billion for the first time in November 2024.

Figure 1: Monthly trade volume of DEXs on Solana. Source: DefiLlama

 this year with a 117% YTD gain, while BTC and ETH surged 113% and 45% in the same period (respectively). While the market seems to expect BTC to trade sideways until the end of the year, the market's attention could shift to major alts such as SOL. This week at 

, we’ll dive into the derivatives trading data on Bybit to analyze traders' sentiment toward SOL. 

Long Accounts Accumulate on SOLUSDT Perps 

Derivatives trading on Bybit shows that traders have increased interest in betting SOL with an upside bias. 

 page on Bybit shows that the open interest of 

 has been maintained at a high level, while the number of total long accounts has been increasing for at least four consecutive days.

The price of SOL has been relatively soft after hitting its ATH at $264. That's when the number of long accounts started to increase. This divergence could imply that derivatives traders have been gearing up for a potential trend reversal, thereby opening more long positions.

We've highlighted the importance of open interest and the long/short ratio in perpetuals trading 

. Learn more about how to interpret this data in the 

Figure 2: SOLUSDT Perpetuals daily open interest on Bybit. Source: Bybit 

Figure 3: SOLUSDT Perpetuals daily long/short ratio on Bybit. Source: Bybit

The upside bias of SOL can also be seen in the Bybit options market. Daily notional open interest in SOL options has been increasing to over $50 million, indicating that options traders have been increasingly willing to enter the SOL market with options. This could also be a sign of possible strength in the momentum of the price. Data shows that most traders have been eyeing contracts with a Nov 29, 2024 expiration, while open interest in December 27 expiration contracts is expected to increase as we move forward to year's end.

Figure 4: Open interest of SOL options on Bybit. Source: Bybit

Figure 5: Open interest by expiration of SOL options on Bybit. Source: Bybit

For options contracts with a Nov 29, 2024 expiration, most of the open interest is focused on the $240 and $260 strike prices, as indicated in Figure 5. While both strike prices are too far off from the current price level (about $230 as of Nov 26, 2024), this could imply that some options traders still believe that the price of SOL could hit its ATH again by the end of the month, while the OI on $100 puts could be part of the overall hedging strategy.

Figure 6: Open interest by strike of SOL options with Nov 29, 2024 expiration on Bybit. Source: Bybit

What's even more interesting is the open interest of SOL options contracts with a Dec 27, 2024 expiration. It shows a notable build-up of open interest at the $300 and $360 strikes. This could indicate that some options traders are bullish on SOL, and are betting the price will have a chance to jump over $300 by the end of the year.

Figure 7: Open interest by strike of SOL options with Dec 27, 2024 expiration on Bybit. Source: Bybit

The derivatives market's response to Solana's new all-time high reveals a sophisticated approach by institutional traders. While a new ATH could be exciting, the real story lies in the positioning of derivatives, where smart money maintains controlled bullish exposure through options and perpetuals. However, the crypto market is known for its constantly changing nature. It's important to keep up-to-date and reassert such data from time to time, as market sentiment may shift at any time.

: Investing in cryptocurrencies and their derivatives involves substantial risk of loss, and isn’t suitable for every investor. This article provides facts for educational purposes only, and does not represent any financial advice. Prior to making any investment decisions, please ensure you fully understand the risks involved and seek independent advice if necessary. Our customer support team is available to assist you with any inquiries.

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Learn From Smart Money: Derivatives Traders Show Optimism on SOL After a Fresh ATH

This session we discussed about the recent shifts in the macro landscape and how options trading can effectively hedge against downside risks. 

The cryptocurrency market has seen significant shifts in the current macro landscape. On the one hand, a 

 developments are driving market sentiment. On the other hand, the market seems concerned about persistent inflation and a relatively hawkish Federal Reserve. This market environment could present both challenges and opportunities, which is why options trading could effectively help you hedge against downside risks and capitalize on volatility. 

, we discuss how the U.S. election outcome has reshaped crypto market expectations for 2025, where U.S. interest rates will head in the next 12–18 months and how traders can take advantage of options trading in this challenging market.

 recaps the Nov 19, 2024 Mastermind livestream (in case you missed it), featuring experts from macroeconomic and derivatives trading backgrounds.

High Expectations of a Pro-Crypto U.S. Administration

The panel started with a discussion of how the U.S. election outcome has reshaped crypto market expectations for 2025. All the panelists expressed their optimism about the crypto market under a Trump administration, especially if the promise of establishing a national BTC strategic reserve materializes. The candidate took a pro-crypto stance during the campaign, and even launched a few crypto projects on his own, so he could be someone who understands the space.

Institutional adoption scaling could be something to look forward to. Janson Wang said, "The market has been talking about crypto's institutional adoption in the past two years, but this time, it's actually going to be a lot of institutional adoption driven by 

 and traditional funds, and investors have shown strong interest in those products."

Tommy Chen added, "Crypto-related regulations will be opening up and leaning on a more friendly side, potentially encouraging more Wall Street players to participate in crypto." 

However, there are also potential risks that all market participants should be aware of. Joe Takayama highlighted that "Trump has made a lot of promises during the campaign, and the market is expecting a lot of (positive) things will happen, and if the U.S. administration disappoints the market in some ways, there could be a downside risk."

U.S. inflation and interest rates are among macro traders' most watched factors. Since BTC is a macro asset now, these two factors also concern our panelists. Daniel Yu pointed out that the pressure of inflation remains intact, and interest rates in the U.S. are still at a relatively high level compared to historical data. That's why inflation hedging will still be a major narrative among institutional investors in 2025. He also added that BTC now appears as an alternative to gold as an 

With only one Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting left in 2024 for the U.S. Federal Reserve after the November 25 bps cut, Janson added that according to the CME FedWatch, there's only a 50% chance that the Fed will cut another 25 bps of its benchmark interest rate in the December 2024 meeting, and an equal probability that it will maintain interest rates at current levels. He also emphasized that interest rate traders have been betting the Fed will only reduce interest rates an additional 25 to 50 bps in the coming three to four months — a lot less than previously expected — which could contribute to a strong dollar and affect BTC’s price.

Despite many watchers directing their attention to the U.S. greenback, Joe Takayama expressed that it may not really affect the current crypto market at all — simply because crypto is a sentiment-driven asset, and market sentiment comes from the U.S. economy and how strong it is. He also added that many investors he knows are taking a lot less risk than they would like, which means they’re under-exposed and would need greater risk appetite to buy risk-on assets, such as BTC.

Why Trade Options? — And How to Capitalize on Volatility

The panel also discussed the advantages of options trading over other derivatives. Institutional traders generally prefer trading options in crypto, simply because of its volatile nature. For example, if a trader enters the market with perpetuals or futures, they could face liquidation or margin call risk, even when the price increases, but it doesn’t happen in options trading. Some of the panelists also shared that, as opposed to using options outright, they make a good complement to an overall investment portfolio and enhance their return profiles.

The panelists also discussed some of the possible options trading strategies for the current market, such as cash-covered put selling. On the one hand, traders can benefit from getting the underlying asset at a lower price if physical delivery is accepted. Otherwise, traders can earn a decent yield from the options premium. Kendrick also shared his insights, adding that traders might also consider a covered call 

 put selling combination, so that they can acquire the underlying asset at a lower entry price and, at the same time, use the option premiums from short options to cover the cost of the call options. This way, it's more like a tool for cash flow.

Other panelists also contributed valuable insights on their BTC options strategies. For example, if a trader is bullish on BTC over the medium-to-long term, they may consider a three-to-six-months call spread so that they can buy one out-of-the-money (OTM) call and sell another call with a higher strike price. However, if the price of BTC doesn't move much, the cost of time decay could be a concern.

Kendrick also highlighted some of the unique features of Bybit options, such as USDC-settled options contracts — which means traders can use USDC to buy or sell options contracts. In addition, Bybit has been working with leading liquidity providers to provide the best-in-class liquidity to both institutional and retail traders. 

Options trading may look complicated at first glance, but as we navigate through uncertain market conditions, crypto options trading emerges not just as another trading instrument, but as a sophisticated tool for risk management and opportunity capture. Whether it’s strategic hedging, volatility plays or structured strategies, options provide traders with the ability to profit from market movements in any direction — a crucial advantage in today's environment. Follow the 

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Bybit Mastermind Live ICYMI: Crypto Options Trading in Uncertain Times

Traders seem to expect BTC’s momentum could slow down a bit after the price hit over $97,000.

Positive sentiment has continued to fuel the cryptocurrency market as the expectation of further institutional adoption of 

 keeps growing. Options trading of BlackRock’s Spot Bitcoin ETF IBIT 

 with a bang, attracting almost $2 billion on the first day of trading. The hope of more spot ETF derivatives to change the market structure with additional institutional money onboarding crypto is high.

, we explored the possibility of the market being overleveraged, which could be painful if the current leverage unwinds. Data from CryptoQuant shows that the estimated leverage of the current BTC markets has reached another YTD high.

Derivatives data on Bybit shows that traders seem to expect that BTC’s momentum could slow down a bit after the price hit over $97,000, and are focusing more on downside protection.

Figure 1: Bitcoin estimated leverage ratio at 0.23. Source: CryptoQuant

BTC Options Open Interest Returns to Previous High While Perps Are Catching Up

Derivatives traders have been actively participating in BTC markets as 

 on Bybit has surged to over $3 billion, on par with the previous high on Nov 14, 2024. Although the options OI has increased, it still hasn’t surged above the previous high. At the time, BTC’s price had already jumped to over $97,000. If the OI doesn’t follow suit and break above the previous high in the coming days, this could be a sign that the market could become a bit exhausted — something for all market participants to be aware of.

Figure 2: Daily open interest for BTC options on Bybit. Source: Bybit

 have also seen increased open interest in recent days. Perpetuals have been among the most favorable products for day traders and short-term speculators. Rising open interest could indicate that more traders are looking for short-term profit, which could bring additional volatility to the market. 

Figure 3: Daily open interest for BTCUSDT Perpetuals on Bybit. Source: Bybit

Dec 27, 2024 remains the most popular expiration date for BTC Options on Bybit, with most of the open interest there. Within that expiration, $120,000 calls had the most OI, and $100,000 calls accumulated the second-largest OI. 

Figure 4: Open interest by strike for BTC Options with a Dec 27, 2024 expiration. Source: Bybit

Meanwhile, the market’s optimism that BTC will hit $100,000 by the end of the year seems to support the current price momentum. Shorter-dated options could show that traders are also looking for downside protection. The Bybit 

 page shows that BTC Options with a Nov 29, 2024 expiration have a strong 24-hour inflow to $90,000 puts. This could indicate that some traders are also anticipating some degree of price correction by the end of the month. 

Figure 5: 24-hour volume by strike for BTC Options with a Nov 29, 2024 expiration on Bybit. Source: Bybit

 for BTC Options on Bybit also indicates a possible downside protection in play among options traders. A smirk skew, or left skew, is a skew curve that’s steeper on one side (the left side) than the other. Traditionally, a smirk skew curve could mean that traders have been protecting their portfolios against a possible declining market. At the time of this writing (Nov 21, 2024), BTC Options contracts on Bybit with Nov 29, 2024 and Dec 27, 2024 expirations have both shown a smirk skew. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean traders are bearish on the price, and could just be part of the trading strategy. For example, traders could set up collars by buying out-of-the-money (OTM) puts and selling OTM calls simultaneously, so that they can profit in case BTC’s price drops, gain upside exposure and potentially offset the cost of buying the puts. 

Figure 6: Implied volatility of BTC Options with Nov 29, 2024 and Dec 27, 2024 expirations. Source: Bybit

The current BTC leverage trading may be complex, but tells a revealing narrative about market sentiment. The divergence between high leverage and increased hedging activities also reminds us that market dynamics are rarely straightforward, and adopting a 

 seems increasingly important in this diverse market.

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Learn From Smart Money: BTC’s Leverage Remains High as Traders Hedge Against Downside Risks

Welcome to Market Chatter, your guide to on-the-ground conversations among Bybit communities in different regions.

We want to take advantage of Bybit’s global network and our regional partners to share market colors based on what our traders and users have been chatting about — and what draws their attention. This week, we look into BTC.

There’s certainly a lot of hype in the crypto community as the 

 reached over $90,000 for the first time. As the bullish sentiment in the market can be seen across the board, our desk shows that the BTC derivatives markets could already be overleveraged at this point without significant changes in the fundamentals.

Crypto has become a major issue during the recent U.S. elections, and president-elect Donald Trump’s campaign has made big promises about crypto, including setting up a 

. Although BTC has the potential to become a treasury asset held by central banks, corporations and institutions, some traders believe that we’re still far away from turning that possibility into a reality. The recent price actions suggest that the market could be moving away from fundamentals and showing a bit 

 has already reached the “Extreme Greed” zone, indicating an increased risk of irrational behavior in the market.

The Crypto Fear & Greed Index has entered the “Extreme Greed” zone. Source: Bybit

, Michael Novogratz, the head of digital investment firm Galaxy Digital, said the odds of a Bitcoin strategic reserve under the Trump administration are low, mostly because the Republicans don’t have majority control in the Senate, which could create friction in the legislative procedure. However, as a result of the 2024 U.S. elections, after January 20, 2024 there will be a Republican majority in the U.S. Senate and, most likely, in the House of Representatives as well.

Some traders have also highlighted that it could be dangerous for retail investors without much crypto experience to enter the market now, as it could be painful if the current leverage unwinds. That’s why we recommend investors

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Market Chatter: Are We Overleveraged?

Learn to use scaled orders for efficient derivatives trading on Bybit. Discover how this powerful tool helps manage large trades with minimal market impact.

In trading, derivatives are financial instruments that derive their value from underlying assets, such as cryptocurrencies, allowing traders to profit from price movements without direct ownership. Scaled orders, a popular tool among derivatives traders, break large trades into smaller orders across a price range, providing enhanced execution control and reduced market impact. This article explores how Bybit scaled orders work, their strategic advantages and how to use them effectively.

 are a trading strategy that divides a large order into multiple smaller orders, placed across a specified price range. This approach allows traders to enter or exit positions gradually in order to gain better control over trade execution and minimize impact on market prices.

Commonly used in derivatives trading, scaled orders help manage large trades with precision. This makes them popular among traders who want diversified entry or exit points.

Bybit’s platform offers detailed tools for setting up scaled orders, which allows traders to customize each aspect of their strategies.

Bybit offers several order types to meet diverse trading needs.

The different order types described above allow traders to choose a method that aligns with their trading strategies and goals.

Scaled orders divide a large trade into smaller, incremental orders placed at various price levels within a specified range. This approach allows traders to execute large trades with less impact on the market price. Below, we illustrate how it works, using the Bybit platform interface as an example.

In the screenshot above, a trader sets up a scaled sell order on the 

 Perpetual contract. The parameters are as follows:

The benefits of using scaled orders are as follows.

Using scaled orders allows traders to sell (or buy) gradually over a defined range, making it easier to handle larger orders while minimizing their effect on the overall market.

Advanced Trading Strategies Using Scaled Orders

Scaled orders can be paired with other strategies on Bybit to create a robust trading approach. By using the example setup above for BTCUSDT, additional strategies can enhance control and profitability.

Combining these strategies with scaled orders provides consistent control, ensuring efficient trade execution even in volatile markets.

To execute a scaled order on Bybit, follow the steps below.

 for an account if you don’t have one) and go to the derivatives trading page.

: Choose the asset you want to trade, such as BTCUSDT.

: Define key settings, including the price range (e.g., $75,000–$85,000), total quantity and the number of orders (e.g., five orders of 0.2 BTC each). Adjust distribution options (such as 

: Confirm all details, then submit the scaled order. Bybit will automatically place limit orders across the specified price range.

: Use Bybit’s order management tools to track and adjust active orders under the 

 is essential when using scaled orders. Position sizing helps limit exposure by ensuring trades align with your 

. Bybit’s platform includes tools to manage both position size and risk, supporting traders in setting realistic order sizes relative to account balance and market conditions.

Bybit’s scaled orders enable precise large-volume trades that minimize market impact, offering traders enhanced control, diversified entry points and steady execution. Explore Bybit’s advanced trading tools to optimize your derivatives trading strategy. 

 for a risk-free start to help build effective habits before diving into live markets. 

 today and explore flexible futures contracts.

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