Daily digest / ETH / 2026-08-19 · this week
ETH · Wednesday 19 Aug 2026 (UTC) · close
$2,256.15 +339.8 (+17.73%)
3rd straight up day$153.5M liquidated

Asian-session rally, closes near the highs

A steady start gave way at 06:15 UTC and ETH climbed $378 to $2,284. Put writers added the most fresh OI at $2,000 (+6,563 ETH). Call writers built positions at $2,100–$2,500, led by $2,100 (+7,040 ETH). Max pain moved from $1,950 to $2,000, following price up. PCR rose from 0.50 to 0.53.

Spot Max pain PCR 15-min · UTC
Open$1,917
High · 21:08$2,316
Low · 06:13$1,905
Avg PCR0.51
Max pain$2,000
Liquidations$153.5M

Key levels for the next session

$2,500 Call wall · 97,548 ETH OI · Fresh calls +3,955 ETH resistance
$2,300 Fresh calls +6,742 ETH cap
$2,256.15 Close ●
$2,100 Fresh puts +6,298 ETH support
$2,000 Max pain · Fresh puts +6,563 ETH · Put wall · 30,343 ETH OI magnet

Where writers added today

$2,100
+7,040 ETH
$2,300
+6,742 ETH
$2,500
+3,955 ETH
$2,000
+6,563 ETH
$2,100
+6,298 ETH
$2,200
+4,465 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 31.0%$29
Session range$411
One session moved 14.2× the next-day straddle's full priced move.

Last 6 sessions

08-14 $1,881 —
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 08-19 $2,256 +340
PCR 0.51
MP $2,000

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 ETH sessions · BTC hub · Live terminal →