Daily digest / BTC / 2026-08-23 · this week
BTC · Sunday 23 Aug 2026 (UTC) · close
$77,706 +622.6 (+0.81%)
$15.3M liquidated

European-session rally, gains trimmed into the close

BTC climbed $2,053 from $75,973 at 08:00 to $78,026 by 21:30 UTC. Put writers added the most fresh OI at $72,000 (+280 BTC). Call writers built positions at $82,000–$84,000, led by $82,000 (+453 BTC). Max pain moved from $69,000 to $69,500, following price up.

Spot Max pain PCR 15-min · UTC
Open$77,123
High · 21:29$78,045
Low · 05:17$75,695
Avg PCR0.59
Max pain$69,500
Liquidations$15.3M

Key levels for the next session

$84,000 Fresh calls +254 BTC cap
$82,000 Fresh calls +453 BTC cap
$80,000 Call wall · 18,528 BTC OI resistance
$77,706 Close ●
$75,000 Put wall · 6,265 BTC OI floor
$74,500 Fresh puts +206 BTC support
$72,000 Fresh puts +280 BTC support
$69,500 Max pain magnet

Where writers added today

$82,000
+453 BTC
$84,000
+254 BTC
$83,000
+147 BTC
$72,000
+280 BTC
$74,500
+206 BTC
$73,000
+142 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 40.5%$1,509
Session range$2,349
One session moved 1.6× the next-day straddle's full priced move.

Last 6 sessions

08-18 $65,721 —
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 08-22 $77,083 -1,272
PCR 0.59
MP $69,000 08-23 $77,706 +623
PCR 0.59
MP $69,500

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 →