Daily digest / BTC / 2026-10-21 · this week
BTC · Wednesday 21 Oct 2026 (UTC) · close
$85,903 +1,065.3 (+1.26%)
2nd straight up day$16.2M liquidated

US-session rally, gains trimmed into the close

BTC climbed $2,926 from $83,728 at 14:15 to $86,654 by 21:45 UTC. Put writers added the most fresh OI at $77,000 (+441 BTC). Call writers built positions at $83,000–$90,000, led by $90,000 (+1,190 BTC). Max pain held at $79,000 all session.

Spot Max pain PCR 15-min · UTC
Open$84,769
High · 18:26$86,729
Low · 14:07$83,728
Avg PCR0.61
Max pain$79,000
Liquidations$16.2M

Key levels for the next session

$95,000 Call wall · 26,501 BTC OI resistance
$90,000 Fresh calls +1,190 BTC cap
$85,903 Close ●
$82,000 Fresh puts +173 BTC support
$80,000 Put wall · 8,091 BTC OI floor
$79,000 Max pain magnet
$77,000 Fresh puts +441 BTC support

Where writers added today

$90,000
+1,190 BTC
$85,000
+588 BTC
$83,000
+425 BTC
$77,000
+441 BTC
$82,000
+173 BTC
$84,000
+162 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 31.0%$2,304
Session range$3,001
One session moved 1.3× the next-day straddle's full priced move.

Last 6 sessions

10-16 $81,509 —
PCR 0.60
MP $79,500 10-17 $81,386 -123
PCR 0.60
MP $79,000 10-18 $83,975 +2,589
PCR 0.60
MP $79,000 10-19 $83,758 -217
PCR 0.60
MP $79,000 10-20 $84,838 +1,080
PCR 0.60
MP $79,000 10-21 $85,903 +1,065
PCR 0.61
MP $79,000

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 →