Daily digest / BTC / 2026-08-18 · this week
BTC · Tuesday 18 Aug 2026 (UTC) · close
$65,721 +171.2 (+0.26%)
4th straight up day$6.6M liquidated

European-session rally, gains trimmed into the close

BTC climbed $1,955 from $64,077 at 10:26 to $66,032 by 14:30 UTC. Put writers added the most fresh OI at $63,500 (+193 BTC). Call writers built positions at $65,500–$72,000, led by $72,000 (+184 BTC). Max pain held at $65,000 all session.

Spot Max pain PCR 15-min · UTC
Open$65,520
High · 14:30$66,032
Low · 10:26$64,077
Avg PCR0.56
Max pain$65,000
Liquidations$6.6M

Key levels for the next session

$72,000 Fresh calls +184 BTC cap
$70,000 Call wall · 19,090 BTC OI resistance
$67,000 Fresh calls +85 BTC cap
$65,721 Close ●
$65,000 Max pain magnet
$64,500 Fresh puts +176 BTC support
$63,500 Fresh puts +193 BTC support
$60,000 Put wall · 17,605 BTC OI floor

Where writers added today

$72,000
+184 BTC
$65,500
+178 BTC
$67,000
+85 BTC
$63,500
+193 BTC
$64,500
+176 BTC
$65,000
+102 BTC
■ calls   ■ puts · OI change from the first snapshot to the close, strikes near spot

Move vs what options priced

Next-day ATM straddle at open · IV 21.1%$1,150
Session range$1,955
One session moved 1.7× the next-day straddle's full priced move.

Last 6 sessions

08-13 $63,471 —
PCR 0.55
MP $65,000 08-14 $62,978 -493
PCR 0.55
MP $65,000 08-15 $63,015 +38
PCR 0.55
MP $65,000 08-16 $63,846 +830
PCR 0.56
MP $65,000 08-17 $65,550 +1,704
PCR 0.56
MP $65,000 08-18 $65,721 +171
PCR 0.56
MP $65,000

Max pain: strike where option buyers lose most at expiry. Fresh OI: positions opened this session. PCR: put OI ÷ call OI.

Descriptive summaries of recorded option-chain data. Not trading signals or advice. Disclaimer →

Related reading

Max pain today →

Live aggregate max pain lander.

PCR today →

Current put-call ratio snapshot.

BTC vs index options →

How crypto expiry and settlement differ.

All BTC sessions · BTC hub · Live terminal →