Updated
Updated · CoinDesk · Jul 17
Trader Places $28 Million Ether Straddle Expiring July 24, Betting on Sharp Volatility
Updated
Updated · CoinDesk · Jul 17

Trader Places $28 Million Ether Straddle Expiring July 24, Betting on Sharp Volatility

3 articles · Updated · CoinDesk · Jul 17

Summary

  • $28 million in ether notional changed hands in a 15,000-contract long straddle, with 7,500 calls and 7,500 puts struck at $1,875 for July 24 expiry.
  • The trader paid about $852,000 in premium—the maximum loss if ETH stays range-bound—while any large move above or below the strike could make the position profitable.
  • Ether traded near $1,825, down 2% since midnight UTC, after recently swinging from a late-June low near $1,500 to highs above $1,900.
  • The trade underscores rising use of crypto options to target volatility itself rather than direction, as exchanges including Kraken expand institutional ether derivatives offerings.

Insights

Can Kraken’s unified wallet for crypto options successfully challenge market leaders like CME and Coinbase?
Why did Kraken launch its global crypto options from Bermuda, and what does this signal for future regulation?