Bitcoin traders are bracing for a potential drop below $80,000 as 2026 approaches, according to Derive co-founder Nick Forster.
“Skew’s sharp decline shows traders piling into put options, especially for the Dec. 26 expiry, where open interest is concentrated at the $84K and $80K strikes,” Forster said. “This suggests a significant probability of BTC starting the new year under $80K.”
At the time of writing, bitcoin was trading around $87,000, down roughly 30% from its all-time high above $126,000 on Oct. 8, according to CoinDesk data.
Forster added that the market may not have reached a bottom yet. “Short-dated volatility now exceeds long-dated volatility, signaling that traders expect outsized swings as we head into the new year,” he noted, pointing to a potentially turbulent December
