Daily digest / ETH / 2026-08-18 · this week
ETH · Tuesday 18 Aug 2026 (UTC) · close
$1,916.38 +4.0 (+0.21%)
2nd straight up day$2.3M liquidated

Asian-session rally, closes near the highs

ETH climbed $32 from $1,888 at 03:30 to $1,920 by 14:30 UTC. Put writers added the most fresh OI at $1,920 (+1,114 ETH). Call writers built positions at $1,950–$2,050, led by $1,950 (+6,039 ETH). Max pain held at $1,950 all session.

Spot Max pain PCR 15-min · UTC
Open$1,912
High · 14:30$1,920
Low · 03:33$1,885
Avg PCR0.50
Max pain$1,950
Liquidations$2.3M

Key levels for the next session

$2,050 Fresh calls +2,665 ETH cap
$2,000 Call wall · 72,841 ETH OI resistance
$1,950 Fresh calls +6,039 ETH · Max pain cap
$1,916.38 Close ●
$1,900 Fresh puts +886 ETH support
$1,700 Fresh puts +925 ETH · Put wall · 52,132 ETH OI support

Where writers added today

$1,950
+6,039 ETH
$2,050
+2,665 ETH
$2,000
+1,397 ETH
$1,920
+1,114 ETH
$1,700
+925 ETH
$1,900
+886 ETH
■ 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 29.7%$28
Session range$35
One session moved 1.2× the next-day straddle's full priced move.

Last 6 sessions

08-13 $1,885 —
PCR 0.53
MP $1,950 08-14 $1,881 -5
PCR 0.53
MP $1,950 08-15 $1,881 +0
PCR 0.52
MP $1,950 08-16 $1,875 -6
PCR 0.52
MP $1,950 08-17 $1,912 +38
PCR 0.51
MP $1,950 08-18 $1,916 +4
PCR 0.50
MP $1,950

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 ETH sessions · BTC hub · Live terminal →