Daily digest / BTC / 2026-08-19 · this week
BTC · Wednesday 19 Aug 2026 (UTC) · close
$70,250 +4,528.8 (+6.89%)
5th straight up day$300.7M liquidated

Asian-session rally, closes near the highs

A steady start gave way at 06:15 UTC and BTC climbed $5,666 to $70,839. Put writers added the most fresh OI at $68,000 (+1,512 BTC). Call writers built positions at $69,000–$75,000, led by $69,000 (+2,623 BTC). Max pain moved from $65,000 to $66,000, following price up.

Spot Max pain PCR 15-min · UTC
Open$65,722
High · 21:47$70,969
Low · 06:13$65,161
Avg PCR0.56
Max pain$66,000
Liquidations$300.7M

Key levels for the next session

$75,000 Call wall · 11,190 BTC OI · Fresh calls +1,548 BTC resistance
$71,000 Fresh calls +1,767 BTC cap
$70,250 Close ●
$68,000 Fresh puts +1,512 BTC support
$67,000 Fresh puts +882 BTC support
$66,000 Max pain magnet
$62,000 Put wall · 5,198 BTC OI floor

Where writers added today

$69,000
+2,623 BTC
$71,000
+1,767 BTC
$75,000
+1,548 BTC
$68,000
+1,512 BTC
$67,000
+882 BTC
$65,000
+869 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 22.4%$1,001
Session range$5,808
One session moved 5.8× the next-day straddle's full priced move.

Last 6 sessions

08-14 $62,978 —
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 08-19 $70,250 +4,529
PCR 0.56
MP $66,000

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 →