Bitcoin rose to $65,209 on Monday as reports of a possible agreement between Iran and Oman to reopen the Strait of Hormuz helped improve broader risk sentiment. Nasdaq 100 futures also climbed 0.45%.
The crypto market began the week in positive territory. Bitcoin was up 0.54% from midnight UTC at $65,209, while Ether gained 0.86% to $1,925. The move marked a steadier start after the sharp swings seen across markets in July.
BTC’s gains came alongside strength in U.S. equity futures. The Nasdaq 100 contract advanced 0.45% amid speculation that Iran could work with Oman to restore access through the Strait of Hormuz, a major global shipping route.
The altcoin market remains in a wait-and-see phase. Investors are watching whether Bitcoin can break higher toward the $68,000-$72,000 region, which could provide a catalyst for funds to rotate into altcoins.
Futures and Options Positioning
Longs gain the upper hand:
The long-short ratio based on taker volume in crypto futures has moved into positive territory, with long positions accounting for 52% of activity. Takers are traders who execute orders at prices already available in the order book.
BTC futures lack fresh momentum:
Bitcoin futures open interest has slipped below 750,000 BTC as traders remain cautious around the $65,000 level. Expectations for further Federal Reserve rate increases have also moderated.
Even with lower participation, annualized funding rates and the 24-hour open-interest-adjusted CVD remain positive. That indicates that the existing futures market continues to lean toward bullish positioning.
ETH open interest continues to fall:
Ether futures open interest dropped to 13.35 million ETH, the lowest reading since May 3. The figure is well below the 15.98 million-token peak reached in late May, showing that traders continue to reduce exposure.
SOL derivatives activity returns:
Solana futures open interest has recovered to 64.60 million tokens after recently falling to around 60 million. The increase coincides with SOL’s rebound from approximately $70 to above $76.
The token has also broken above the Ichimoku cloud, a technical signal that could point to a short-term improvement in bullish momentum.
Monero attracts aggressive buying:
Monero jumped 5% over 24 hours and briefly crossed $400, its first move above that level since June 12. Futures open interest increased 6% during the rally, suggesting traders are adding exposure alongside the price increase.
XMR’s 24-hour CVD was the strongest among major cryptocurrencies, indicating buyers are using market orders more aggressively. Annualized funding rates reached 28%, the highest among major tokens, pointing to strong demand for long positions.
Bitcoin volatility falls to a yearly low:
The BVIV index, which tracks Bitcoin’s 30-day implied volatility, declined to 35.59%, its lowest level of 2026. The reading indicates expectations for calmer trading, although puts remain relatively expensive as investors continue seeking downside protection.
Calls attract attention:
Bitcoin options volume shows stronger demand for call contracts at the $68,000 and $70,000 strikes. Ether options are showing a similar tilt toward upside exposure.
Altcoin Performance
Pump.fun led the altcoin market, gaining 5.39% from midnight UTC and extending its 24-hour rally enough to push its market capitalization above $1.1 billion.
Ethena rose 4.84% to $0.0907, extending a steady recovery that has seen the token rise in most sessions over the last two weeks. Despite the gains, ENA remains more than 90% below its record high.
NEAR Protocol advanced 3.79% as AI-linked cryptocurrencies recovered. FET added 2.10% following weeks of weaker performance compared with the broader market.
Lighter dropped 0.94%, making it one of the few notable tokens in negative territory. The decline extends a pullback that followed its more than 200% surge in July.
Worldcoin gained 13% in 24 hours but remains firmly in a longer-term downtrend, sitting about 91% below its all-time high from last year.
CoinMarketCap’s altcoin-season index fell to 37 out of 100 from 51 last week. The decline indicates that market attention is increasingly centered on Bitcoin’s potential breakout rather than a broad-based rotation into altcoins.
