In the stock market, options are a popular trading class, and crypto options are gaining popularity both with institutions and the public. Have you ever wondered how BTC and ETH options are priced? We take a look at the factors influencing a crypto option's price.

At first glance, crypto options may appear to be a foreign concept … especially to the uninitiated. Though more technical than day-to-day trading, there’s no need to be intimidated — when broken down into bite-sized pieces of information, crypto options are, in fact, not as complex as you may think. For starters, let’s take a look at how crypto options are priced.

At its core, the price of a crypto option is determined by two key parameters: Intrinsic value and extrinsic value. In this article, we look at crypto option pricing, delving into the aspects which make a crypto option valuable. If, while reading this article, you feel confused at any point, just sit tight and read on till the end … we promise it will all eventually make sense.

An option can be defined as “an agreement that confers the buyer the liberty (not the obligation) to exchange or buy a current or existing investment at a foreordained price before a particular date.” A 

 follows the same underlying logic as a stock option, but has more room/potential for leverage.

Options have somewhat diminished the dangers and expenses associated with buying stocks. They’re a decent technique for trading digital assets. Options provide investors an amazing chance to anticipate or guess the future worth of an underlying asset, which can then be purchased in fiat or digital currencies. 

Crypto options are arguably more desirable than their stock counterparts, since cryptocurrencies such as 

 can go for thousands of dollars per coin/token. With crypto options, you can invest in a certain cryptocurrency without owning the actual asset, and stand to profit exponentially at a lower risk level.

This may be the least difficult concept to grasp. An option is declared to possess intrinsic value if it’s worth something at the time of expiration. 

For example, let’s presume the market cost of an asset to be $70 and the investor possesses a call option worth $60 each. This call option has intrinsic value and is declared as

 because, at expiration, the investor can acquire a hundred shares at $60 instead of the current market cost of $70. 

Therefore, the intrinsic value is defined as the difference in value between the call option and the underlying stock price. In this situation, $70 − $60 = $10.

Alternatively, a call option is declared as

 if, at termination, it has no intrinsic value. Following a similar illustration, presuming the stock price tumbles to $50, it would retain no intrinsic value because no investor will call at $60 when the current market cost is $50. This renders the shares worthless.

A put option is declared to possess intrinsic value if its price is higher than the current stock price. 

For example, presuming that an investor buys a put option of $75 when the market price is $70, the investor retains liberty to trade at $75 regardless of the current market price. The intrinsic value estimation, as those mentioned above, is calculated as the difference in value between the prices of the option and stocks. For this situation, $75 − $70 = $5. This infers that each share retains an intrinsic value of $5.

Again, presuming the stock price ascends to $80, and the put option is worth $75, the put is viewed as OTM because the vendor can just trade at the $75 put value, instead of the $80 stock market price, which renders the put option valueless.

EV incorporates a blend of different variables , including implied volatility and time decay, which we'll consider later in this article.

Essentially, two types of options exist: Call options and put options. A call option allows an investor to acquire an underlying asset, while a put option allows an investor to sell an underlying asset.

When buying this option, an investor (the buyer) earns the freedom to acquire contracts from the vendor of the specified asset at a fixed value commonly described as the “

.” This exchange window is open for only a limited duration, as the buyer must utilize their “call” before the particular date of expiration. 

The call option is generally held in expectation of a rise in the market price of the stock. This is because in a scenario where market price outperforms strike price, the investor buys the stock from the seller at the strike price, which is lower than the current market price, thus inducing a profit.

Otherwise, the stock price dwindles, and the investor lets the call option expire, with the only loss being the premium fee (a specific amount paid to purchase the option).

A put option gives the buyer the freedom to compel the vendor of the “put” to pay for a hundred shares of a specific stock at the strike price from them. The put option is held with a bias to see a drop in the market price of a specific stock, far below the strike price. When this occurs, the vendor who traded the put is compelled to pay for the shares at the strike price, which is above the present market price, resulting in a profit for the buyer. 

However, if the market price spikes instead of diminishing, the smartest move is to let the option reach expiration, and forfeit just the premium fee. The put option works as a protection system, a type of insurance that secures the buyer from an excessive stock value decline.

A few factors influencing the value of options (which can be referred to as extrinsic value) — are unavoidable. These are as follows:

Fluctuations in the underlying stock price directly influence the worth of both call and put options. A spike in the price of a certain stock will naturally prompt a boost in the price of call options, on the grounds that the stock can be acquired at a cost less expensive than the prevailing market price. Likewise, a decline in stock price will bring about an increment in the price of put options on the grounds that the stocks are being sold at a more exorbitant price than the plunging stock price.

 is quite complex. It’s upheld by a component referred to as 

. This factor takes into account the market value of a stock over a specified time frame. 

Within the legitimacy time frame of an option, a trader is regularly expected to input future volatility. Of course, no trader knows what will occur in the financial exchange market. The trader can make a calculated assumption by analyzing past variables, such as profits, interest rates and time span.

These factors give rise to what is known as implied volatility, which is a vital indicator utilized by

 to estimate the possible period of occurrence of future volatility.

Implied volatility is utilized to determine the price of options, regardless of whether they’re cheap or costly. The higher the

, the higher the premium levels, and vice versa. Once investors fully grasp this concept, they can observe when to buy (when the premium fee is low) or when not to buy (when the premium price is expensive).

Time is a simple concept in the real world. However, it takes a great deal of experience and research to completely comprehend its impact on a stock, due to a concept known as 

. Time naturally leans toward the stock trader, meaning that the stock prices of good organizations tend to increase over a period of time. 

Then again, time can be the adversary of the options trader. Assuming there is no perceptible change in the price of a stock over a period of days, it automatically leads to a decline in the value of the option. Furthermore, as an option approaches expiration, its value generally diminishes. 

There are different models used to determine the price of an option — and each model comes with different assumptions. Many of these models consider a few variables, such as strike price, volatility, current market price, interest rates and time to expiration, in order to give a close estimate of (or accurate conclusion on) the price of an option. 

Of the many models used to price options, a few notable ones are the

. All of these models share a similar goal: To calculate the chances of an option being ITM at the point of expiration so that a monetary value can be given to it.

Here, we’ll consider one of the most renowned models, the Black-Scholes model, to understand how it works.

 came together and created a formula for obtaining a theoretical price for derivatives with time to expiration. They published a pricing model in 1973 that’s now referred to as the beginning of an evolution for the contemporary options market.

The Black-Scholes model formula is as follows: 

As seen from the image above, the Black-Scholes model comprises 7 variables in total:

Here are some of the assumptions made for these variables: 

While the Black-Scholes model is highly respected, all its assumptions don't hold true now. This has introduced 

 to suit market conditions better. There are also other models to consider in pricing options.

Such unpredictability makes cryptocurrency unsuitable for transient or short-term financial investors. Instead, cryptocurrency is more suited to traders who are prepared to lock up their cash, and hang tight for prices to rebound over a long period of time (think years.)

 interest in an organization, so a stock's performance relies on the organization's prosperity over the long haul. Since cryptocurrency is, for the most part, not backed by resources or income, it depends heavily on favorable public and corporate sentiments to raise its price.

Stock and cryptocurrency markets have been found to be largely correlated, and this correlation looks to increase 

. When the stock market is in the red, major investors (e.g., financial institutions, crypto whales) may choose to liquidate crypto assets in favor of stocks, causing the prices of the former to plunge.

Cryptocurrency options are run on a round-the-clock basis, while stock options typically run on weekdays during regular market hours (9am–5pm).

Getting started with crypto options is as simple as these three steps:

There are many different platforms available with different offerings, and they vary in security, reliability, ease of access and ease of use. There’s no one-size-fits-all: We recommend you DYOR to find the best fit.

The fundamental benefit of buying crypto call options is that a call trader doesn’t have to commit to exercising the contract if the seller in question would rather not. The risk for buying call options is restricted to the fee paid for the premium. This means that on the off chance that the market moves against call traders, they don’t need to stress over incurring losses aside from the premium fee. With high potential gains and restricted loss, crypto options serve as a good investment.

[Editor’s note: A word of caution — don't jump into crypto options purely because of hype, and never invest more than you can stand to reasonably lose.]

Crypto options are becoming very popular. From a trader’s point of view, the level of 

 crypto options come with, as well as the mitigation of losses they provide, make them a great investment opportunity.

As we’ve said before, it might seem all technical and complex at the beginning, but spending the time to understand crypto options and reading

 with focus will help you become an expert.

Intermediate

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How are Crypto Options Priced?

Bitcoin options allows you to own BTC without having to buy the asset itself. Discover what Bitcoin put and call options are, what benefits they bring to the table, and how to buy BTC options.

The world of investing is characterized predominantly by the maximization of profits. Every year, numerous innovations spring up to help investors profit in whatever capacity and whichever field an opportunity presents itself. 

One tool used to increase profitability in global markets is 

. Though virtual and conceptual, these instruments expand an investor's portfolio and create new ways to profit from a single asset or asset class. One such financial instrument is called 

Though popularized only in recent times, the concept of options trading 

. This concept is founded on a financial theory that gives certain permissions and withholds certain rights. Essentially, options are contracts that give an investor or trader holding an option the right (not the obligation) to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price and date.

, and a key attribute of assets that fall into this class is dependency. This means that the value of options is derived from that of other instruments such as cash, 

Options track underlying assets and then reflect the value to be traded. Across industries, they have proven to be highly useful in generating income, hedging against price movements and profiting from speculative trading. 

While the concept can be technical and rather confusing, one thing is for sure: Options are a profitable tool that can definitely become an investor's best friend. In this article, let’s discuss everything you need to know about a particular type of crypto option: 

 has grown to become a household name evoking a wide range of emotions: Curiosity, hope, fear, skepticism ... and much more.

Its growth over 12 years took the world by surprise. First appearing in a white paper in October of 2008, pseudonymous author(s) 

 introduced a concept that would later give centralized financial institutions worldwide a run for their money.

Birthed out of a desire to correct the flaws and misappropriations of the existing financial systems, Bitcoin came as a solution to "rip-off" middlemen and unfair financial regulations. From a value of $1 in 2011 to reaching an all-time high of $68,000 in Nov. 2021, 

 crazy growth. Its price currently stands at approximately $40,000 per coin.

Since 2011, Bitcoin has grown from its first use case (as a 

) to being adopted by millions of users and corporations worldwide,

, with more countries looking to follow suit.

While Bitcoin has yet to fully mature, it’s come a long way and kick-started a new chain of events in the world's financial systems.

 exist: Similar to Bitcoin futures, they’re a form of derivatives. They can be defined as "contracts that give an investor or trader the right to buy or sell Bitcoin (but not the obligation) at a given price (strike price) and a specific date (expiration date)." 

Bitcoin options trading is preferable to buying Bitcoin, because the cost incurred to buy an option (a premium) is less than that of the actual asset. As opposed to buying and holding Bitcoin, Bitcoin options give you the 

 to take speculative positions (i.e., upward or downward) on BTC's price movement.

Considering how volatile the cryptocurrency asset is, Bitcoin options are a beautiful concept. They allow you to profit from the downward movement in price without actually suffering the loss of holding the currency itself. Bitcoin options also allow you to profit from a spike in price as if you were holding the actual 

In addition, Bitcoin options are an excellent choice for investors and traders who understand how it works. Apart from the 

 in Bitcoin that creates wide profit margins, losses are limited only to the premium paid to open the positions. This uncapped profit potential and capped losses are some of the best features of Bitcoin options trading that makes it attractive and in demand.

A Bitcoin call option is an agreement that allows a call option owner to buy an agreed-upon amount of Bitcoin for a particular price (also known as the "strike price") at a particular time (expiration date).

Consider the following (hypothetical) scenario: Let's say you believe that the price of a piece of land will go up in a couple of months. You discover that you can reach an agreement with the seller that would allow you to purchase the land at a particular price, and mandate the seller to sell it to you ... all this at the small cost of a fee (premium). Would you accept the offer? Probably. This same logic applies to Bitcoin call options. 

To clarify, the agreement merely gives you the "option" to buy the land at that time and isn't mandatory. If you don't have the funds at that time to close the deal, all you have to do is forfeit it and lose the fee paid.

This instrument allows the contract owner to sell Bitcoin at an agreed-upon price later. Simply said, a Bitcoin put option gives you the privilege of selling your "

." It usually follows a downward bias — that is, when an investor feels the price of Bitcoin will decline rapidly, or is bound to do so over a certain time frame.

Why Would Anyone Buy a Bitcoin Put Option?

To help you understand better, here's an example: Mr. Stone is a fruit seller who notices that fewer people buy more fruit at a particular time of the year, which forces the price of fruits down. Throughout this period, he consistently runs his business at a loss, because he has to sell his produce at a lower price than what he bought it for. 

One day, he hears of a company that wants to buy his fruits at a predetermined price, even when that price is lower than the market rate. This opportunity allows him to sell his goods to them at that price and hedge against decline, even when other fruit sellers have no choice but to make do with less-than-ideal selling rates. 

Mr. Stone and the company enter an agreement that mandates the company to buy his goods at the predetermined price within that period. This contract is sealed with a fee (premium). If the company refuses to act on the contract, Mr. Stone gets to keep the premium that was paid.

It's worth noting that Mr. Stone gets to decide the premium paid based on the perceived demand for his fruit at that time. The same logic applies to Bitcoin put options.

"Holding and writing" in options trading is another way to express the act of buying and selling. Like buying and selling, there are two sides to an options contract; On one side is the "holder," or buyer, and on the other is the "writer," or seller. This two-sided concept covers both put and call options — meaning that you can go long or short on both.

The connection between a holder and a writer is the 

. When an investor decides to "hold" an option, then they’re obligated to pay a premium that gives them the right to buy or sell Bitcoin.

The reverse is true of "writing." When an investor decides to “write,” they sell their right to decide to the holder. If the holder decides to act on the options contract, the seller will have to keep their word and relinquish their right. They only get paid the premium for the decision.

Certain terminologies are used to understand the factors responsible for an option's price in Bitcoin options trading. These terms are called the "Greeks." They decide how much you pay to open an options contract as a holder, or how much you receive selling an option as a writer. Although you’ll see terms like Delta and Theta, please don't be intimidated — we're not going back to Math/AP class. Here are the five members of the Greeks: 

 reads how reactive an option's price is to a point move in Bitcoin's underlying price.

 denotes how much the Bitcoin option's delta moves, for every point move in the underlying Bitcoin price.

measures the rate of decay of a Bitcoin option with time. The lower the theta, the farther from the expiration date; the higher the theta, the closer to the expiration date.

 keeps a tab on how sensitive an option is to the implied volatility in the underlying Bitcoin price. It measures the rate of change of an option's premium, with a 1% change in volatility. Bitcoin is a volatile asset, so vega holds a bigger vote in determining option price. 

shows the reaction of an option's price to changes in interest rates.

The relationship between Bitcoin and Bitcoin options can be likened to that between a mother and her child. While both have the same DNA, and share a number of physical/biological similarities, they are not of the same body — with the child being an extension of their mother. In the same way, Bitcoin options can be perceived as an extension of Bitcoin.

We already know why BTC is sold and is currently the biggest cryptocurrency by 

: High demand. However, Bitcoin options (and other derivatives) are sold because they serve certain specific purposes, which we shall explore in detail below.

Hedging is one of the most common reasons for trading futures or contract options.

, picture a garden close to a river or water pathway. It's safe to presume that such a piece of land will, sooner or later, get washed away by the force of water currents. In such a situation, the owner of the land builds a fence or hedge around it to shield it from erosion.

This example is a close, albeit simplistic, representation of hedging in the financial markets. Investors (and miners of Bitcoin) hold an asset whose value could be “eroded” or "washed off" by the forces of 

. An options contract "shields" the value of the underlying asset — in this case, Bitcoin — by "locking" its value, i.e., the price at which Bitcoin can be traded for money.

Traders and investors use contracts such as options to express their short-term sentiments (

To understand this better, remember that when an asset is bought, it’s usually believed that the asset will be more valuable in the future. When the asset records a substantial increase in value, you can profit by selling off an amount of it. 

 run is imminent in the upcoming months? Although the underlying asset's price may bounce back after a while, by purchasing a put option you would maximize your chance to make some profit. 

Here’s another reason Bitcoin options are increasingly traded over Bitcoin itself: Trading an options contract provides you with the benefit of trading more funds than you have. These funds are usually provided by the exchange on which the instruments are traded. A larger amount of fund (capital) means more potential profit, but also entails a higher level of risk. In Bybit, you can leverage up to 100x on your capital.

Expiration dates refer to the agreed date on which the contract option — the option of either buying or selling — is to be exercised. Note that not every Bitcoin options contract can only be fulfilled on its expiration date; some can, in fact, be exercised before the expiration date. Below, let's look at the two methods of contract fulfillment.

European-style options contracts mandate the holder to fulfill only the terms of the agreement on the date of expiration. Even if a contract is 

 (ITM), the holder can't exercise their option until the set date, on which the fortunes of such a contract may have reversed.

A European-style contract requires higher accuracy in speculation than its American counterpart. At the time of this writing, major Bitcoin options trading platforms offer only European-style contracts.

Options contracts styled in this manner give the holder the privilege of exercising the contract before the 

. If a contract is ITM, the holder can decide to use their trade option, thereby making a profit.

The American way of doing things implies that a much lower degree of accuracy in speculation is required. Making a profit requires the contract to be ITM any time: Between the date entered and the expiration date.

Bitcoin options are offered on several exchanges, which have different methods of allocating contracts. For example, on a 

, the options contract is upheld directly between the customer and the exchange.

To enter a contract option, the user chooses the amount of Bitcoin they wish to trade the options contract on, thus determining the premium. Since the trade takes place between the user and the exchange (using a computer program), if the value being lost by the user were to pass a threshold, the user would be 

, with the only money lost being the premium.

On some other exchanges, a user "writes" a contract and waits for their contract to be matched by another who orders to purchase a contract with similar terms to the writer. The exchange regulates this trade, and a fee is charged to ensure fairness. 

 (see image above).For a step-by-step guide on how to do so, 

, options are sure to keep their rewards at reasonable levels. To the Bitcoin investor, Bitcoin options are a good way to make profits from the 

 of Bitcoin. It ensures that you keep smiling all the way to the bank (as long as your speculations are spot-on), no matter the situation in the main market. Even if BTCis bleeding red, 

To the investor who wants a "feel" of the market without prior experience with Bitcoin or cryptocurrencies, no worries: There's an option (pun intended) for you in the form of Bitcoin options contracts. (Editor’s note: Please ensure that you’re educated on the risks involved. Only go for options trading if you’re comfortable stomaching the level of risk).

The goal of every trader and businessperson is to make a profit; no one sets out to lose. Due to the sophisticated nature of economic systems, this goal is now more achievable than ever. Newly introduced layers of trade (AKA 

) have found their way into the crypto financial system, and helped drive the growth of 

On the flip side, more ways to make money means more ways to lose money. 

 require caution and not (ideally) a mindset of "get rich quick." In order to maximize your gains, you'll need plenty of patience, as well as the ability to spot opportunities and act on them quickly.

We hope this guide has helped you grasp the fundamentals of BTC options. As long as you do your research and understand the risks, you’ll be set to purchase your first Bitcoin option.

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What Are Bitcoin Options?

If you trade stocks, you've likely heard of stock options... But did you know that there are options in cryptocurrency as well? Here's the only guide you need on crypto options.

In every financial market, contracts form the basis of things. Contracts are legally binding agreements designed to serve specific purposes and needs. In financial markets, contracts are crafted to make a profit and are also known as “financial instruments” — abstract tools made to generate profit.

One such instrument that’s been developed to make a profit is options. As with other 

, options contracts track the underlying asset's price, i.e., its value is dependent largely on other instruments' price (cash or derivatives). An option is a contract that empowers a party to buy/sell a financial instrument at a predetermined price, on or before a predetermined date.

In their bid to become mainstream, cryptocurrencies are adopting several financial processes and instruments, with options being one of the latest instruments to be integrated into the crypto ecosystem.

Investors in the crypto space like options because they can serve as a 

 against existing risk and provide greater market exposure, diversifying one’s portfolio and enabling increased profit margins. 

Apart from this, options also allow traders to use a small amount of money to control a larger position value (leverage). As only a small amount is involved, the ROI on options trading is much higher than that of other types of trading.

Yes, there are options in cryptocurrency, and this sector of the market has experienced tremendous growth in the past few years, with outstanding contracts 

Crypto options trading gives a person the privilege (not obligation) to buy or sell the underlying 

 at a preset price on or before the expiration date after a premium is purchased. They’re used by options traders for speculation (potential profit if the asset moves in your direction), or by investors for hedging. As we know, volatility is rife in the crypto market, making crypto options a popular choice for investors. Currently, the most popular crypto options are 

 options. Before we proceed, a couple of definitions are in order.

 The amount a person pays to secure the rights provided by the contract. 

 The price at which a person has the right to buy the underlying asset (for a call option), or the price at which a person has the right to sell the underlying asset (for a put option).

There are two types of options contracts: 

When it comes to call options, you can either buy call options or sell call options. 

When you buy a call option, you are essentially buying an underlying asset at a particular predetermined price, regardless of the market price before/at the contract’s expiration. 

When speculating in the financial market, you can purchase a call option when you believe the market price at the contract expiration will be higher than the strike price. In short, you anticipate that the value of the options will increase — the more its value increases, the more you will earn.

For example, Shaw purchases an Ethereum call option that will expire after a week, with a premium of 25 

 and a strike price of $3,000. When the price of ETH moves from $3,000 to $3,200, he may decide to close his position before the validity period elapses, and his gross profit will be $175 [i.e., ($3,200-$3,000-$25)/market price at execution − strike price - premium].

On the other hand, call option selling (naked call) is carried out when a trader expects the price of the underlying wallet to remain flat or move lower. 

Given the example above, as long as the price at expiry does not go to/go below the strike price of $3,000, and the buyer does not exercise the contract, you will collect the full premium of 25 USDT.

A call option entitles you to buy an underlying asset at a particular predetermined price, regardless of the market price before/at the contract's expiration. 

Put options allows you to sell the underlying asset at a predetermined price before/at the expiration of the contract, regardless of the market price at that time. 

Similar to calls, you can buy put options or sell put options. When you buy a put option, you are essentially selling the underlying asset at a predetermined price before/at the expiration of the contract, regardless of the market price at that time. 

When trying to secure the gains of minting or investing, a person could enter a put option contract to ensure the asset retains substantial value. A speculator could also purchase a put option if they believe the price of the underlying asset class would be lower than the strike price, in order to make a profit, by repurchasing it at a lower price than the one at which they bought it.

 when the price of 1 BTC was $48, 000. As she expected its price to fall, she bought a put option from her crypto exchange that gave her the right to sell her asset at a strike price of $45,000 after 2 weeks. When the price of BTC got to $40,000, Chris exercised her right and profited $5,000 as a result.

On the other hand, put option selling (naked put) is carried out when a trader expects the price of the underlying wallet to go up.

Using the same example above, a trader who sells Chris the option is betting that the price of BTC will go up. If the price of 1 BTC goes up to more than $48, 000 e.g., $50, 000, at the date of expiry, the option will expire worthless and the seller will get to keep the full premium.

As contracts, options usually involve two parties: a trader and an exchange. An options seller places a contract order on the crypto exchange, with the expiration date and the strike price specified. Then, a buyer is matched with the order by the exchange.

To ensure fairness, the cost of the premium is determined by the amount of time remaining on a contract before its expiration, the

 of the underlying asset, the market price of the underlying asset, and 

This is a strategy regularly used in trading options. As its name implies, the Bull Put strategy is used when a trader or speculator believes that the underlying asset will experience a slight price increase. 

The Bull Put Spread can also be achieved with OTM i.e., selling a put option at a higher strike price and buying another put option at a lower strike price, with the same date of expiration (DTE).

The key here is that you want to sell the higher strike, and buy the lower strike. However, although the risks are fairly low, this strategy is not immune to risks. The potential loss would be the difference between the two strikes, minus the credit received.

If the asset price is lower than the strike price at the expiration, both put options will expire ITM, and a loss would be recorded.

For example, a crypto investor predicts Bitcoin,  which is selling at $48, 000 per token, will increase in a month's time. The investor sells one put option for $2,400, with a strike price of $50,400 expiring in one month, and buys another put option for $800 with a strike price of $45,600 expiring in one month. The investor receives a net profit of $1,600 ($2,400-$800 premium paid) for the two options.

For example, a crypto investor is bullish on Bitcoin,  whose current price is at $48, 000. The investor sells a put option for a premium of $2,400, at the strike price of $48,000 with a 1 month date to expiry (expiring in one month). Concurrently, he buys another put option for $800 with a strike price of $45,000 expiring in one month. The investor receives a net profit of $1,600 ($2,400-$800 premium paid) for the two options. This is called the “

If things go south and Bitcoin’s price drops to between $45,000 and $48,000 at the date of expiry a month later, the investor would likely make a loss. If Bitcoin’s price goes even more bearish and drops below $45,000, the investor would incur a max loss capped at $45,000 - $48,000 + $1,600 = -$1,400.

This is the inverse of the Bull Put strategy. When an investor feels moderately 

 on an asset, the Bear Put spread strategy is the right way to go, as it reduces cost and risk while simultaneously offering the chance to profit.

To execute this strategy, you buy a “buy put” option and simultaneously purchase a “sell put” option with a lower strike price. Both contracts need to be of the same asset and same expiration date.

For example, if the asset is trading around $65, you can buy a strike put at that price (or around it) for $5 (this equals $500 as premium), while selling another put option that has a strike of $60 at $3 (this equals $300). Note that the two options are to be executed at the same time. 

It’s ideal to place the orders as a spread to do this. The net debt is $2 per spread. The premium of $200 is the maximum loss that can be recorded. If the price drops to $50, you get a gross spread of $5, while the net spread is $3 (this equals $300).

This strategy makes use of four contracts: two puts (a long and a short) and two calls (a long and a short). They’ll all have four strike prices and the same expiration date. It profits from low volatility (small moves in prices). 

The American-style options contract is a method where the execution of the contract can happen before the expiration date stated in the contract. In comparison, the European-style options contract requires that the contract be settled only after the contract's expiration.

A cash-settled options contract is a procedure of settlement in which the contract is settled by the cash equivalent of the underlying asset upon execution if the contract is in their favor. But physically-settled contracts are settlement styles in which the underlying asset is used to execute the contract. 

For example, if Sandra closes her call options position that allows her to buy 10 

 at a strike price of $136, and the market price is $170, instead of receiving a credit of $340 as gross profit ($170 - $136 × 10), she’s credited with the amount of Litecoins the profit can buy, which is 2 LTC ($170 + $170 = $340). 

In stock options trading, 1 contract is equivalent to 100 stocks. Thus, when the price of a stock goes up by $1, the investor profits $1 x 100 stocks = $100. 

However, when it comes to crypto options trading, using BTC as an example, 1 contract = 1 BTC. When BTC’s price goes up by $1, the profit earned is $1 x 1 coin = $1. To get the same $100, an investor will have to buy 100 contracts or 100 BTC. 

These two financial derivatives are remarkably similar, as they both track underlying assets and allow people to speculate on them. They also allow traders to take long (call) and short (put) positions.

However, their features differ slightly in their modes of operation. Let's see how.

An options contract allows you to buy an underlying asset at a price other than the current market price. It also gives you the “option” of buying/selling the underlying asset. However, in a 

, this move is an obligation, a duty that isn't based on the holder's discretion. This means that if the market moves against the direction of a futures contract, the position will be closed at the expiration date. As it’s a type of 

Compared to options contracts, futures contracts are high-risk/high-reward. Unlike options contracts, where the maximum potential loss is limited to the premium paid for the contract, with a futures contract the loss depends on how much the price has moved away from your entry at the expiration date. The stakes are high with futures: While there’s potential to make a lot of money, you could potentially lose a lot of money as well.

) are contracts with no expiration date. They allow traders to close their positions (if they’re gaining) at any time. At times, their 

 if the market moves away from their predictions as a result of the 

This means that all perpetual contracts are settled in cash, as there is no expiration date when they’ll be physically settled. That is, all perpetual contracts are American-style.

The crypto-financial space is relatively new, and complex instruments are just gaining a foothold in 