• Bitcoin’s Funding Rates on DyDx and Deribit have turned positive, indicating a surge in the number of traders expecting a price rally.
• The coin’s “flat” Open Interest, however, signals that market participants are unsure of its short-term price direction.
• Despite a slight price retracement, the Funding Rates have continued to rise, suggesting a strong demand for long positions.

Bitcoin’s positive Funding Rates on DyDx and Deribit indicate a potential price rally, despite a flat Open Interest signaling market uncertainty.

Bitcoin’s Funding Rates Turn Positive

Bitcoin’s brief rally above $63,000 has led to a spike in its Funding Rates on derivatives exchanges like DyDx and Deribit. According to on-chain data provider Santiment, as of the 13th of May, BTC’s Funding Rates on these platforms were 0.0012% and 0.037%, respectively. These rates have continued to rise despite the coin’s slight price retracement from the $63,000 level in the past few days.

Funding Rates and Market Sentiment

Funding Rates are used in perpetual futures contracts to ensure that the contract price stays close to the spot price. A positive surge in an asset’s Futures Funding Rate suggests a strong demand for long positions, considered a bullish signal and a precursor to an asset’s continued price growth. Conversely, negative Funding Rates suggest a high demand for short positions, a bearish signal that shows market participants are betting against an asset’s price.

Flat Open Interest Indicates Market Uncertainty

While Bitcoin’s Funding Rates have risen, its Futures Open Interest has oscillated between $29 billion and $30 billion since the beginning of May. This oscillation indicates that traders are not aggressively adding or exiting their positions, often a sign of low market volatility. This lack of strong conviction regarding Bitcoin’s short-term direction might be the reason for the “flat” Open Interest.

Conclusion

Despite the market uncertainty indicated by the flat Open Interest, the positive Funding Rates suggest a potential price rally for Bitcoin. As more traders take long positions, the coin’s Futures Open Interest is expected to spike, indicating a regained market confidence. However, the market’s volatility and unpredictability necessitate careful observation of these indicators.