Small-Cap Altcoins Face Mass Liquidation Risk as Open Interest Exceeds Market Cap

Derivatives trading on lower-cap cryptocurrencies has reached levels that significantly outpace underlying valuations, creating conditions for potential cascading liquidations. Data from research firm Alpharactal shows open interest ratios climbing to dangerous thresholds, with several tokens now carrying futures exposure larger than their entire market capitalization. When open interest grows while market cap remains constrained, the price discovery mechanism shifts from organic demand to leveraged speculation.