Daily digest / BTC / 2026-08-21 · this week
BTC · Friday 21 Aug 2026 (UTC) · close
$78,355 +5,353.0 (+7.33%)
5th straight up day$132.5M liquidated

Buying from the open, closes near the highs

BTC climbed $5,729 from $73,001 at 00:00 to $78,731 by 22:15 UTC. Put writers added the most fresh OI at $75,000 (+1,987 BTC). Call writers built positions at $78,000–$84,000, led by $78,000 (+2,003 BTC). Max pain moved from $67,000 to $69,000, following price up. PCR rose from 0.56 to 0.59.

Spot Max pain PCR 15-min · UTC
Open$73,001
High · 08:59$79,357
Low · 00:00$73,001
Avg PCR0.57
Max pain$69,000
Liquidations$132.5M

Key levels for the next session

$84,000 Fresh calls +1,682 BTC cap
$82,000 Fresh calls +1,465 BTC cap
$80,000 Call wall · 18,645 BTC OI resistance
$78,355 Close ●
$75,000 Fresh puts +1,987 BTC · Put wall · 5,945 BTC OI support
$70,000 Fresh puts +1,443 BTC support
$69,000 Max pain magnet

Where writers added today

$78,000
+2,003 BTC
$84,000
+1,682 BTC
$82,000
+1,465 BTC
$75,000
+1,987 BTC
$70,000
+1,443 BTC
$74,000
+1,194 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 42.4%$1,492
Session range$6,355
One session moved 4.3× the next-day straddle's full priced move.

Last 6 sessions

08-16 $63,846 —
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 08-21 $78,355 +5,353
PCR 0.57
MP $69,000

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 →