Daily digest / BTC / 2026-08-26 · this week
BTC · Wednesday 26 Aug 2026 (UTC) · close
$78,981 -732.8 (-0.92%)
$10.1M liquidated

Asian-session sell-off, buyers step in

A steady start gave way at 02:45 UTC and BTC slid $2,670 to $77,736. Put writers added the most fresh OI at $70,000 (+791 BTC). Call writers built positions at $81,000–$88,000, led by $88,000 (+528 BTC). Max pain held at $70,000 all session.

Spot Max pain PCR 15-min · UTC
Open$79,714
High · 02:29$80,479
Low · 15:04$77,657
Avg PCR0.59
Max pain$70,000
Liquidations$10.1M

Key levels for the next session

$88,000 Fresh calls +528 BTC cap
$86,000 Fresh calls +467 BTC cap
$80,000 Call wall · 17,995 BTC OI resistance
$78,981 Close ●
$74,000 Fresh puts +724 BTC support
$70,000 Max pain · Fresh puts +791 BTC · Put wall · 11,178 BTC OI magnet

Where writers added today

$88,000
+528 BTC
$86,000
+467 BTC
$81,000
+439 BTC
$70,000
+791 BTC
$74,000
+724 BTC
$78,000
+705 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 44.9%$1,925
Session range$2,823
One session moved 1.5× the next-day straddle's full priced move.

Last 6 sessions

08-21 $78,355 —
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 08-24 $78,988 +1,282
PCR 0.60
MP $70,000 08-25 $79,714 +726
PCR 0.60
MP $70,000 08-26 $78,981 -733
PCR 0.59
MP $70,000

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 →