- Bitcoin and Ethereum experience major price drops; market instability increases.
- Significant options expiry contributes to recent market volatility.
- High implied volatility suggests changing trader strategies.
Bitcoin and Ethereum experienced sharp declines on January 30, 2026, with BTC dropping below $82,000 and ETH falling below $2,700 amid market volatility.
The price drops highlight significant market shifts and potential impacts on trader positions, specifically in BTC and ETH options, reflecting heightened volatility and caution in trading decisions.
Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) experienced significant price drops on January 30, 2026. BTC fell below $82,000 to around $81,965, marking a 7.54% decrease in 24 hours. Ethereum also declined to $2,699.61, representing a 4.63% drop.
Market data from Binance indicates the options expiry involved 91,000 BTC and 435,000 ETH, amounting to billions in notional value. Trader shifts are evident, with high implied volatility indicators. Experts predict further impacts on BTC and ETH price dynamics.
The price declines of BTC and ETH have created ripples across the cryptocurrency market, influencing investor sentiment. High-volume trades were observed, characterized by sell-offs influenced by expiring option contracts, leading to liquidity concerns amid volatile conditions.
Financial markets anticipate potential losses for short positions if ETH surpasses $2,863, risking $1.399 billion. Conversely, longs see a $625 million risk below $2,593. Institutional participants monitor movements, impacting market stability alongside trading volumes.
Previous price supports were broken as BTC and ETH reached lows paralleling November 2025 levels. Broader market uncertainty remains as prior Put/Call ratios indicate potential volatility. Market analysts foresee additional price swings based on historical data trends.
Experts emphasize the role of options expiry in recent price changes, marking it as a major influencing factor. Historical campaign patterns and trader behavior suggest heightened trading activity may persist. Such insights aid future market predictions and stability evaluations.
“Today marks the first monthly expiration following the annual settlement, with options accounting for 25% of total positions expiring.” – Adam, Analyst, Binance / BlockBeats






