Bitcoin $23.6B Options Expiry Set for Dec. 26; Max Pain Near $96,000

Bitcoin faces its largest annual options settlement on Dec. 26 at 16:00 UTC+8, with notional value of roughly $23.6 billion and max pain near $96,000, BlockBeats reports. Price has held between $85,000 and $90,000 ahead of expiry, with gamma hedging keeping volatility low during thin Christmas trading. After settlement, analysts cited by BlockBeats expect volatility to rise and see scope for a move above $90,000, with some eyeing $100,000 and a potential year-end rally.