Daily digest / BTC / 2026-08-20 · this week
BTC · Thursday 20 Aug 2026 (UTC) · close
$73,002 +2,752.4 (+3.92%)
5th straight up day$58.6M liquidated

Asian-session rally, closes near the highs

A steady start gave way at 06:15 UTC and BTC climbed $3,889 to $73,240. Put writers added the most fresh OI at $68,000 (+1,189 BTC). Call writers built positions at $75,000–$80,000, led by $80,000 (+2,700 BTC). Max pain moved from $66,000 to $67,000, following price up.

Spot Max pain PCR 15-min · UTC
Open$70,322
High · 23:32$73,311
Low · 06:16$69,339
Avg PCR0.56
Max pain$67,000
Liquidations$58.6M

Key levels for the next session

$80,000 Call wall · 18,156 BTC OI · Fresh calls +2,700 BTC resistance
$76,000 Fresh calls +2,035 BTC cap
$73,002 Close ●
$72,000 Fresh puts +1,173 BTC support
$68,000 Fresh puts +1,189 BTC support
$67,000 Max pain magnet
$65,000 Put wall · 5,612 BTC OI floor

Where writers added today

$80,000
+2,700 BTC
$76,000
+2,035 BTC
$75,000
+1,576 BTC
$68,000
+1,189 BTC
$72,000
+1,173 BTC
$65,000
+1,042 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 41.5%$1,712
Session range$3,971
One session moved 2.3× the next-day straddle's full priced move.

Last 6 sessions

08-15 $63,015 —
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 08-20 $73,002 +2,752
PCR 0.56
MP $67,000

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 →