Bitcoin and Ethereum funding rates surge to over two-year highs as bullish bets get costlier


  • Bitcoin price rally past the $60,000 mark pushed the annualized funding rates for BTC contracts to more than 85% on top exchanges. 
  • The surge in funding rates is the highest since early April 2021. 
  • The annualized funding rate for Ethereum contracts on Binance exceeds 110%. 

Bitcoin’s (BTC) price rally to its 2024 peak of $64,000 has resulted in a spike in funding rates, pushing them to hit a 27-month high. Data from the centralized-exchange data platform Velo Data shows that the BTC rally has catalyzed a bullish sentiment in the futures market, which is likely to attract arbitrageurs and institutional investors. 

Also read: Bitcoin shatters $63,000 as Jim Cramer posses a rhetoric on BTC value for mankind

Bitcoin and Ethereum funding rates peak

Bitcoin price rally to $64,000, a new 2024 peak, marks the end of a prolonged bear market and paves the way for hopeful BTC holders, awaiting catalysts like the upcoming halving event in April 2024. The futures market has renewed hopes from Bitcoin’s recent bull rally, with funding rates soaring to 27-month highs. 

According to Velo Data, BTC’s funding rate on Binance surged past 89%, and is nearly 80% on the OKX exchange. The surge in annualized funding rates for Bitcoin contracts open up arbitrage opportunities for institutional investors and large wallet addresses. 

BTC

BTC Funding Rate. Source: Velo Data

On Thursday, Bitcoin trades around $62,600. The largest crypto asset by market capitalization is up 21% in the past week. 

Ethereum (ETH) rallies alongside Bitcoin as the two enjoy a high correlation of 0.93, according to Macroaxis. Ethereum futures contracts have crossed a 110% funding rate on Binance, according to Velo data.On Bybit, Ethereum funding rate is 100%, versus February 28, when it was 10%. 

ETH

ETH funding rate. Source: Velo Data

The massive spike in funding rates has brought them to their highest level in  27 months, alongside catalysts like the recent SEC approval of Spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US and the anticipation of a Spot Ethereum ETF approval by the regulator. In this context, both assets could see further increases in funding rates and popularity among derivatives traders. 

Market participants have noted the capital inflows to Spot Bitcoin ETFs in the weeks following the product’s launch, fuelling hopes for institutional interest in futures and the underlying asset. 

At the time of writing, Bitcoin price is $62,631 and Ethereum is exchanging hands at $3,469. 


Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.

If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.

FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.

The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.

Join Telegram

Recommended content


Recommended Content

Editors’ Picks

AI crypto coins rally ahead of ChatGPT creator OpenAI plans to announce Google search competitor on Monday

AI crypto coins rally ahead of ChatGPT creator OpenAI plans to announce Google search competitor on Monday

Barely before the hype around NVIDIA stock gain is over, AI crypto tokens have another bullish catalyst coming their way, which could provide more tailwinds to drive the price of the sector’s tokens.

More Cryptocurrencies News

Ethereum needs a bullish trigger, Joseph Lubin blasts the SEC

Ethereum needs a bullish trigger, Joseph Lubin blasts the SEC

Ethereum co-founder alleges that the SEC aims to stifle innovation through its enforcement actions against Ethereum-related companies. Grayscale CEO says he's optimistic the SEC would approve its spot ETH ETF application.

More Ethereum News

Franklin Templeton declares it’s  “Base Season” as the Coinbase low-cost L2 sees significant rise in activity

Franklin Templeton declares it’s  “Base Season” as the Coinbase low-cost L2 sees significant rise in activity

Franklin Templeton, an investment firm with up to $1.46 trillion in assets under management, has declared that “It’s Base Season.” It comes amid growing activity on the low-cost ETH L2 solution.

More Cryptocurrencies News

Binance fined by Canadian financial regulator over AML violations

Binance fined by Canadian financial regulator over AML violations

Canada's financial regulation body, the Financial Transactions and Reports  Analysis Centre (FINTRAC), has fined Binance for refusing to abide by the status quo for all foreign monetary bodies in the country, according to a report on May 9.

More Cryptocurrencies News

Bitcoin: Should you buy BTC here? Premium

Bitcoin: Should you buy BTC here?

Bitcoin (BTC) price shows signs of a potential reversal but lacks confirmation, which has divided the investor community into two – those who are buying the dips and those who are expecting a further correction.

Read full analysis

BTC

ETH

XRP