Traders betting against Bitcoin Cash (BCH) experienced substantial losses last week as the price spiked to $320, the highest such loss recorded in over two years, according to data from Coinalyze. The sharp increase in price resulted in cumulative losses exceeding $25 million for short and long positions in BCH-tracked futures1.
In trading, “shorts” refer to bets against the price of an asset, expecting it to decrease, while “longs” are bets expecting the price to rise. The sudden price spike may have been driven, in part, by these massive losses, creating a knock-on effect that pushed the price higher1.
Negative Funding Rates Signal Dominance of Short Traders
As of the start of this week, funding rates for BCH futures across all exchanges have gone negative. This development indicates that short traders, those betting against BCH, are currently dominating the market. These traders are willing to pay their counterparts, the long traders, to maintain their positions. The funding rates for BCH traders have hit as much as -0.05% every eight hours in fees to exchanges, suggesting a growing short interest in the tokens1.
Liquidation: A Risk for Leveraged Positions
The term “liquidation” refers to an exchange's forceful closure of a trader's leveraged position due to a partial or total loss of the trader's initial margin. This situation arises when a trader fails to meet the margin requirements for a leveraged position—lacking sufficient funds to keep the trade open. Large-scale liquidations can signal the peak or trough of a steep price move, potentially guiding traders to adjust their positions accordingly1.
Triggers of BCH Price Spike
The drastic movement in BCH prices last week likely resulted from increased trading volumes on South Korean exchanges, a market known for its high trading activity, or “irrational exuberance.” Another contributing factor could be the launch of EDX Markets, a new exchange backed by traditional finance heavyweights such as Fidelity Digital Assets, Charles Schwab, and Citadel Securities. This exchange offers support for BCH, alongside Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), and Litecoin (LTC)1.
Conclusion: Risks in Cryptocurrency Trading
The events of the past week serve as a potent reminder of the risks inherent in cryptocurrency trading, particularly for those engaged in leveraged trading of futures contracts. As the market continues to evolve, traders and investors alike should be vigilant about market dynamics and the potential for sudden, significant price movements.
